The Source: Labor ministers skip Allan’s team Yarra Valley bonding session in favour of overseas jaunts

The off-site powwow is all the rage to make sure a team is on the same page. That’s why Labor types can’t stop gossiping about how many MPs skipped a Jacinta Allan-led get-together last week.

Those absent from the get-together at the Peppers Marysville resort included Local Government Minister Nick Staikos. Picture: Supplied

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Political parties are kind of like football teams, so when the leader organises a bonding session, it matters that everyone gets involved.

That’s why Labor types can’t stop gossiping about what it means that up to 20 MPs – including several senior ministers – didn’t show up to Premier Jacinta Allan’s caucus conference in the Yarra Valley last week.

Those absent from the get-together at the Peppers Marysville resort included Local Government Minister Nick Staikos who, as The Source revealed last week, was too busy sunning himself in Europe with his new fiancee Loretta.

(Having posted happy snaps from Athens, Crete, Rome and the Amalfi Coast, Loretta belatedly learned her lesson about political life and overhauled her Instagram privacy settings.)

Kos Samaras, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Staikos's fiancee Loretta, an unnamed friend, Katie Hall and Steve Dimopoulos. Picture: Supplied

Fellow ministers Steve Dimopoulos and Ros Spence were also missing, after they were spotted overseas with Staikos during the winter parliamentary break.

Gabrielle Williams, Vicki Ward and Natalie Suleyman were other cabinet members not to appear for the powwow, according to The Source’s sources.

So, what gives?

“Dan Andrews would never have allowed that many people to not show up,” one Labor figure said, suggesting that perhaps Allan was not considered as strong a leader internally.

Others wondered whether MPs were slacking off, thinking the Liberal Party’s internal wars would enable them to cruise to victory in next year’s state election.

Either way, as another Labor source said, the low turnout was not a good look – especially ahead of preselection season.

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Originally published as The Source: Labor ministers skip Allan’s team Yarra Valley bonding session in favour of overseas jaunts