The Sauce: Scott Morrison back to lend a hand to his Lib mates

With an election in the offing, former PM Scott Morrison has returned. Plus, who will be targeted next ICAC, and which ministers have the most advisers? The Sauce is here.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison quit Canberra to “take on new challenges”, but the ex-Liberal Party official will always be around to lend a hand to his mates.

Not only have senior Libs claimed that ScoMo has been sending the odd SMS message to Liberal leader Peter Dutton, he has also recently appeared in a party membership recruitment drive video organised by NSW Liberal Party state director Chris Stone.

On Wednesday, The Sauce was sent photos of Morrison having dinner in Sydney at hip Spanish restaurant Balcon by Tapavino with former federal colleague, deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Scott Morrison spotted catching up with Sussan Ley at hip Sydney Spanish restaurant Balcon by Tapavino on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

Ley regards Morrison as “a dear friend”, especially after he enabled her to rejoin the ministry after she resigned following a travel expenses breach.

Trained commercial pilot Ley is once again contesting the rural NSW seat of Farrer, which she has held since 2001, at the upcoming federal election.

Ley says former PM Morrison is ‘a dear friend’. Picture: Supplied

Morrison at the Alliance of Responsible Citizens conference last year. Picture: Jane Dempster

While Ley holds the seat with a comfortable 16.4 per cent margin, she is being challenged by Climate 200-backed independent Michelle Milthorpe.

Was ScoMo offering up some sage campaign advice?

According to ScoMo, the meet-up was nothing more than “just friends having dinner”.

“Nothing more, nothing less,” he texted.

Pollies never really quit.

NASSIF INQUIRY

Almost two years since Sauce revealed that NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigators had raided the homes of up to five past and present Liberal Party members in April 2023, it seems an inquiry is imminent.

No one was charged in relation to the raids (although some had phones and laptops seized), which were believed to have been prompted by allegations Liberal MP Ray Williams made against his own party.

Jean Nassif with three of his children in Lebanon in April 2023. Picture: Facebook

Williams claimed in parliament that developer Toplace had been colluding with the Liberal Party to advance its development interests in the Hills area, with Toplace owner Jean Nassif allegedly giving party members funds to replace elected members on Hills Shire Council with new councillors who would be more favourable to new developments.

The claims were referred to the watchdog.

Nassif, who is now living in exile in Lebanon, has repeatedly denied the allegations.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by any Hills Shire councillor.

Williams’ allegations followed a protracted factional war in the Hills, with right-wing members making similar claims against the centre right.

After a period of seeming inactivity, Macquarie Street was abuzz this week with gossip ICAC had been calling in witnesses and making visits to local councils in the past few weeks.

Stay tuned.

SPINNING AROUND

The latest ministerial staffing figures are out.

The premier, unsurprisingly, topped the list of having the most advisers with 35 full-time equivalent positions, including four of the highest paid jobs which attract salaries of between $241,016 and $320,000.

Deputy Premier Prue Car — who holds the education portfolio — was next in line with 12.64 positions.

Car has three of the highest paid advisers, as does Transport Minister John Graham, who has a total of 12.2 positions.

The total number of Minns government minister adviser positions was 219.44.

This compares with 228.7 in the former Coalition government before it lost power.

The former Coalition government also had eight adviser positions earning between $266,974 and $354,201.

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Originally published as The Sauce: Scott Morrison back to lend a hand to his Lib mates