The Sauce: Malcolm Turnbull turns on hapless MP in New York
The Sauce: Former PM Malcolm Turnbull did not hold back when an MP who voted against him in the leadership spill introduced him at a swanky New York dinner; and which pollie has turned out to be very useful in a crisis?
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Deposed prime ministers have a tendency not to go quietly into the night.
Liberal MP Ross Vasta is well aware of that now, after Malcolm Turnbull accused him of “blowing up the government” during a testy exchange at a swanky dinner in New York last year.
The Queensland MP approached the former PM during a gala dinner for outgoing US Ambassador Joe Hockey in October.
Mr Vasta, a supporter of Peter Dutton, introduced Mr Turnbull to a small group of people, describing him as a “great prime minister”.
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Mr Turnbull told the shocked group of US bankers that Mr Vasta was one of 43 insurgents who brought down a “perfectly good government”.
Other guests described the interaction as “tense”.
When contacted last week, Mr Vasta refused to comment on the clash.
Yesterday, Mr Turnbull confirmed the incident but said it was a “matter of public record” that Mr Vasta helped bring down his government.
“Mr Vasta approached me and said to those present what a great PM I had been and how much I was missed,” he said.
“I thanked him for his compliment and simply noted, politely, he had been one of Dutton’s supporters seeking my removal.”
Mr Vasta was in New York on secondment to the UN.
News of the encounter spread in Canberra last week as Mr Turnbull returned to parliament for the first time since being dumped to attend an address by the Indonesia president.
IT’S NOT A STEAL
A 20-year-old Daihatsu Sirion isn’t normally the car of choice for thieves — let alone one with the local pollie’s face plastered along the side. But crooks in Broken Hill aren’t that fussy.
A volunteer for Baron MP Roy Butler had their blue Sirion sedan stolen last weekend with police describing the car as “distinctive with signage on the sides”.
By distinctive they meant ‘Vote 1 Roy Butler’ with a large headshot of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party member.
“It’s a strange car to steal isn’t it,” Mr Butler said.
“It’s a bit like stealing a police car or a taxi. I don’t think they thought that far ahead.”
Fortunately, Mr Butler announced on Saturday night that the Daihatsu had turned up, although looking like it had been bush-bashing through dust and dirt.
ANYBODY THERE?
Sometimes things just don’t go your way in politics.
The Sauce has learnt Lyne MP David Gillespie was interrupted during his party room pitch for Deputy Nationals leader by his own mobile.
As he fumbled to switch it off, he inadvertently answered it — meaning his speech was further interrupted by: “Hello, are you there?”
As one National MP quipped: “How long do you have to be on the line to get a vote?”
It’s probably little wonder David Littleproud won the ballot.
ALWAYS ON CALL
Paediatrician-turned-pollie Katie Allen was at the scene of two medical emergencies in Canberra last week.
On Monday the Higgins MP was dining at popular pollie haunt Chairman and Yip when a diner started choking.
She was able to ascertain the patient had a partial airway obstruction and would be OK.
On Wednesday, her skills were called upon when Nationals MP Darren Chester appeared to have a fit.
She seems like a good person to have around.
Got some Sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au or annika.smethurst@news.com.au
Originally published as The Sauce: Malcolm Turnbull turns on hapless MP in New York