Backroom Baz: Meeting of potty mouths for Dan Andrews and former Abbott staffer

Anyone who has worked with Daniel Andrews says he has a certain way with language, and in his new life at Visy he may have found a kindred spirit.

Former Premier Daniel Andrews is consulting for Visy Industries. Picture: Josie Hayden

With the dust settling on Daniel Andrews’ new gig – consulting to cardboard king Anthony Pratt’s Visy Industries at a rumoured $100,000 a month – Baz was alerted to the strange bedfellow the former premier now finds himself working alongside.

Enter Richard Dowdy, Visy’s in-house political adviser, who was a junior staffer in former prime minister Tony Abbott’s office.

Not a lot in common, you might think. But you’d be wrong! Sources that have worked closely with both men say they share a certain love of language. The vulgar kind.

“Proper little potty mouths,” one factional heavyweight told Baz. Indeed, anyone who has worked with Andrews says he has a certain way with language.

For Dowdy’s part, well, it’s all on the public record.

He infamously called Malcolm Turnbull the big C-word after he rolled Abbott for the leadership in 2015, and had a bit of a swipe at Julie Bishop online once too, according to sources.

Baz reckons the two might get on all right after all.

Libs in a tizzy about Oxford Uni trip

Former Ripon MP-turned John Pesutto’s chief of staff, Louise Staley, had some of her colleagues in a flap this week after jetting off to the UK to take part in a four-day intensive course at Oxford University.

Louise Staley’s social post in Qantas PJs.

Surely being one of about 45 people from around the world to take part in the Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme should be a good thing? But Baz’s spies inside the Liberal Party say there has been much chatter about the exorbitant cost of the program, coming in at about $12,000, and that’s before the business class flights are added on top.

How does Baz know Staley flew business?

The special edition Qantas pyjamas she showed off on her social media were the giveaway.

“We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis, she should really read the room,” one colleague quipped.

Others just want to know, who’s paying?

Baz is told Staley funded the whole trip herself, such is her commitment to equipping herself with the skills necessary to lead an office.

Why are people so unkind?

Contacted by Baz, Staley hit back.

”I value education to enable me to be as effective as possible. Having built an outstanding team I am confident they can execute superbly in my absence,” she said.

Tatts in the ranks

What do dogs and tattoos have in common? They’re both for life. Just ask Paul Edbrooke, the member for Frankston who has recently shown his love for kelpie Lola with some rather large body art on his forearm.

Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke's arm art of his kelpie Lola.

He’s also not the only politico to have gone under the needle of late.

Former Victorian Minister Phillip Dalidakis posted pics a few weeks ago of his new tatt – a cute little elephant conga line that he got in Thailand matching his daughter’s.

The new round of tatts, of course, dredged up the old rumour that some heavy hitting cabinet ministers have secret tatts under wraps, specifically tramp stamps and ankle ink – But Baz has had no concrete evidence as yet. Watch this space.

Guess who

Which MP got tongues wagging last week over a trip to Queensland which spurred on rumours of a potential exit from politics later this year?

Overheard

“I don’t think there’s any makeup that could fix this face,” Opposition Leader John Pesutto caught on a hot mic.