Backroom Baz: Jack and Jill still have a hill to climb on men-only clubs

Victoria’s Attorney-General, Jill Hennessy, has a brother-in-arms in her opposition to men-only clubs — and he’s a member of one of Melbourne’s leading male bastions, writes Backroom Baz.

Attorney-General Jill Hennessy. Picture: AAP

MEN ONLY

Attorney-General Jill Hennessy this month slammed Melbourne’s men-only clubs for their “anti-women stance” during the brouhaha over new Greens candidate Julian Burnside’s admission he belonged to such a club.

But she ruled out changing the law that allows those clubs to exclude women under exemptions in the equal opportunity act.

And it is a good thing too, for her brother JACK (yes, her parents named their children Jack and Jill), who is a member of one of the illustrious Melbourne establishments — The Australian Club.

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— Read Backroom Baz’s column, Victoria’s hottest political gossip, in the Sunday Herald Sun today

But Baz has heard that Jack, a wealthy venture capital type, has been a supporter of equality within the club’s plush William St walls, and even voted for women to be able to join in a recent club survey.

The results of that survey are unknown.

But one can only assume the majority of the male members were not as progressive as Jack, with women still unable to join and eat in the main dining room or gaze upon the “exquisite murals” of the Ellis Rowan Room.

GETTING HOT IN HERE

While thousands of CFA firefighters battled blazes across the state, there have been some curious comings and goings from the authority’s Burwood East headquarters in recent times.

Some long-serving HR staff walked away last year, leaving the team headed by people and culture boss Liz Radcliffe, who is currently on enforced leave over her role in the CFA’s controversial $150,000 partnership with Rugby Victoria.

There are curious comings and goings at CFA headquarters as the fire services restructure looms. Picture: Tony Gough

Baz hears the looming fire services restructure has left other front-office workers stuck on frustrating short-term contracts.

One hardworking junior staffer was recently shown the door, to the surprise of colleagues.

She let rip on social media in a post that ended: “Karma is a butch!”

Those who are left reckon it’s a message the higher-ups should bear in mind.

WHAT’S THE REASON?

Baz’s hipster mates recently spotted a friendly catch-up between a couple of northside political heavies in the trendy suburb of Northcote.

Nestled in the Espresso Room was the leader of the Reason Party, Fiona Patten, and former Greens candidate Alex Bhathal.

Apparently Bhathal, who quit the Greens in February due to “relentless organisational bullying”, looked pretty chillaxed.

Alex Bhathal. Picture David Geraghty

Fiona Patten.

It was a far cry from when her tilt for Batman was rocked by internal party allegations of bullying (which she denies).

Patten, who has been courting high profile women for roles in the party over recent months, was also looking chirpy. Could she be trying to turn Bhathal from green to the Reason’s colour of teal?

Time will tell whether it’s the beginning of a new political allegiance or just a storm in a keep-cup.

COMMISSION OVERLOAD

Early this year, Premier Dan Andrews appointed former Department of Justice supremo Penny Armytage to chair the state’s mental health royal commission.

Armytage left the bureaucracy for accounting giant KPMG in 2012 and was praised by then-premier Ted Baillieu on the way out the door.

But the respected senior public servant and consultant had been feeling the heat from the 2010 murder of Carl Williams by Matthew Johnson.

Corrections Victoria, which Armytage was in charge of, should never have allowed Williams and Johnson in the same room, it was argued.

Penny Armytage.

Williams was helping police at the time, something that put him in danger.

Given that case is likely to come up at a separate royal commission into the use of informants, Baz’s sources say it could mean the chair of one royal commission giving evidence to the other royal commission.

GUESS WHO?

Which embattled public servant has raised the ire of colleagues with sleazy behaviour around the office?

HISTORY REWRITTEN

We know our federal pollies can be a little bit glass-jawed.

But driven by a fear of public ridicule, public servants and political staffers appear to be changing facts about their MPs on online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia.

Baz isn’t sure who’s responsible for a series of changes to the Wikipedia page of Liberal MP Jason Wood but last month one of Baz’s favourite tales about “Woody” was deleted.

Liberal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood. Picture: AAP

The paragraph, describing a speech he delivered in 2008 on the risks associated with genetically modified organisms, was removed.

Baz suspects that’s because Woody repeatedly used the word “orgasms” when he meant to say “organisms”, but he can’t be sure.

The vital information was replaced by a list of Wood’s committee work. Thankfully this wrong has been righted. But Woody isn’t the only Liberal MP who has had embarrassing gaffes magically disappear from their Wikipedia page.

Baz notices that the entry for outgoing Liberal backbencher Ann Sudmalis, who described penalty rate cuts as a “gift” for young people, has also been altered. A revised entry says that “gift” description was taken out of context by the media.

NO TAKERS IN GEELONG

Baz hears the Liberal Party just can’t find a single person brave enough to run against Labor frontbencher Richard Marles at the May election.

The Geelong-based MP holds the seat by fairly safe margin of about 8 per cent and with the Libs on the nose, Baz reckons that buffer might be even bigger after polling day.

Struggling with their lady issues, Baz was told the party has approached a dozen local ladies to stand against Marles but just can’t find one willing to lose.

Labor Corio MHR Richard Marles. Picture: AAP

One of Baz’s mates said at least one potential candidate had a “good laugh at the offer” before refusing to give up a good job to becoming a losing candidate.

Maybe Baz should put on a dress and put his hand up?

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