The Sauce: News reporter Sean Berry becomes Premier’s director of media
The now-former Seven News state political reporter Sean Berry has spent the past few years lobbing 6pm news bombs at various ministers, including stood-aside sports minister John Sidoti, so his new role as the Premier’s director of media should be interesting.
NSW
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There might be some frosty hallway encounters in Macquarie Street when the Premier’s new chief spinner Sean Berry begins in the role next month.
The now-former Seven News state political reporter has spent the past few years lobbing 6pm news bombs at various ministers, upsetting some along the way.
Among them is stood-aside sports minister John Sidoti, who last year sent a heavily worded legal letter citing coverage of his property holdings, and threatening to sue for defamation.
No case has been forthcoming while Mr Sidoti awaits the outcome of a preliminary ICAC investigation.
Suing one of his leaders’ staff just might be a first — and also make for some uncomfortable chitchat in the lifts at Parliament House.
Awks!
MODERATE EFFORT
After sitting in the shadows for almost two decades, left-wing Young Liberals are making a move to oust their factional opponents in their bid to take control of the organisation.
However, senior right-wing Liberal sources say their efforts to fill the president and vice-president roles when the AGM is held this afternoon in Melbourne will be in vain.
The vote is expected to be tight, but conservatives say the Right are expected to win by at least two votes with South Australian Jocelyn Sutcliffe — supported by Tony Pasin MP — to take the presidency.
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Alex Lisov, who hails from the Victorian Right, is tipped to become vice-president.
Lisov has the backing of Housing Minister Michael Sukkar and party powerbroker Michael Kroger.
The Left ticket, backed by NSW federal MPs Jason Falinski and Trent Zimmerman, has South Australian Nikolas Baric as president, with NSW Moderate Harry Stutchbury in the vice-president role.
Until last year, Baric had been in the Right. It will be the first time a ballot has been held since 2002, with a senior Right source declaring: “The Left usually just accept that the Right have the numbers.”
Could the young lefties be buoyed by the debate on climate change led by senior NSW Moderate Matt Kean?
Either way, whoever wins will not only govern the Young Liberals but have a seat on the powerful federal executive decision-making committee alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, each state and territory party director and president.
“It is very fair to say that the Right ticket getting up is good news for the PM, where if the Left get up, they’d be pushing hard on climate change,” the source said.
The ballot follows a traditional gala dinner held in Melbourne last night, with Mr Frydenberg the special guest.
FALSE ALARM
Since Transport Minister Andrew Constance declared he would be stepping aside from Cabinet to focus on the bushfire emergency in his Bega electorate, the “thank you” letters have been rolling in.
“Thank you for your services in transport,” one from a stakeholder apparently said.
At the same time, staff have been approached by their Macquarie St colleagues asking if they were “OK” now that they had to find new jobs. There’s even been talk of a reshuffle.
While speculation remains that Mr Constance has Canberra in his sights — although presumably only when Scott Morrison moves, given the tensions between the pair following the Bega MP’s tongue-lashing over handling of the bushfire crisis — it can be confirmed Mr Constance will return to Cabinet on February 14.
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Originally published as The Sauce: News reporter Sean Berry becomes Premier’s director of media