Backroom Baz: Allan slow out of the blocks

Jacinta Allan has been in the top job for a few weeks now, and Baz reckons she’s been a bit slow going. Get a move on, JA!

Jacinta Allan has been in the top job for a few weeks now. Picture: Nicki Connolly

After almost nine years in office, the transition between Premiers was lightning quick for Daniel Andrews: he announced his resignation then walked away from Spring St within a touch over 24 hours.

He’s now in New York on holiday (sources insist), taking some time off before getting back to work.

For his successor though, it’s all been a bit slow going.

Almost three weeks since taking on the state’s top job, Jacinta Allan is yet to bring a team on board to help her start charting her own course.

Failure to land a chief of staff, media director or policy director is causing some angst inside government.

It means the old guard that ran Andrews’ private office are still running the show, and tensions are rising with staff from Allan’s former ministerial office.

Sources have described “lots of instability and frustration” with the state of flux being described by some as “untenable”.

Baz says it’s time to get a move on. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Given Allan was, according to multiple sources, told to start preparing for a potential transition as early as June, some are wondering why more wasn’t in place ready to go when the time ultimately came.

Those firmly in Allan’s corner blame Andrews for springing the resignation on her: they say she was given no more than five hours notice before the former premier announced his resignation at a press conference.

“There’s a view Dan was so keen to orchestrate his resignation, and keep it a surprise, that it trumped all consideration about the time Jacinta needed to get things up and running,” one source said.

There’s also a view that until she was actually appointed Premier, it would have been presumptuous to have a team ready to hit the ground running.

Despite that, multiple people had been sounded out for senior roles.

At least one, former chief of staff Jess Howard, was considered a certainty to make a political comeback after some time away but has apparently declined the offer.

And without a chief of staff in place it’s difficult for Allan to put a team in place.

And until she does, the old guard will remain in place, with some saying they’re so set in their ways, they’re currently more of a hindrance than a help.

Fine balancing act

What has – and has not – been said in the political response to the Hamas terrorist attacks of Israel has dominated the local take on the dreadful events.

Some federal government ministers have appeared more mindful of alienating their Muslim electorates than showing leadership.

And Premier Jacinta Allan waited until Tuesday to boldly announce that barbaric assaults on women and babies were indeed acts of terror.

Her tap dancing around the brutal truth invited questions of strong leadership, or rather a lack of it.

It also aggrieved some sections of the Jewish community which has long considered its relationship with Allan as fraught.

They have felt marginalised, if not ignored, by Allan for a long time.

An Allan trip to Israel had been thought to have been planned for next April to forge stronger bonds, but was cancelled recently because the timing clashed with a regional sitting of parliament.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto similarly cancelled a planned trip to Israel.

He was set to go with a small group at the start of September, but it fell through at the last minute amid internal ructions inside his party room.

It’s hard to let go

Daniel Andrews was spotted twice in public this week, first voting early ahead of yesterday’s referendum, and later at New York’s JFK Airport.

And for a brief moment, he also made a return appearance on Spring St care of a media release sent out on behalf of Water Minister Harriet Shing which boasted the “Andrews Labor government” was returning water back to Gippsland’s traditional owners. Oops.

Hope as some may, it won’t bring Andrews back.

A government media release couldn’t quite say goodbye. Picture: David Crosling

Wedding joy

Ripon MP Martha Haylett tied the knot last week, and it would be remiss of Baz not to send his best wishes.

Haylett married Sam Lynch at Eurambeen Historic Homestead and Gardens in Beaufort, midway between Ballarat and Ararat.

Labor MPs were among 140 guests, including Premier Jacinta Allan and her deputy Ben Carroll.

Details of the event have been, uncharacteristically by Spring St standards, hard to come by, with guests remaining respectfully tight-lipped.

“What happens at the wedding stays at the wedding,” one guest said.

Well played, and heartiest congrats, Martha.

Confidential Fox bids

Expressions of interest for Victoria’s new contemporary art gallery, The Fox: NGV Contemporary went out this week to assess the capability of prospective bidders to undertake construction of the building which forms part of a larger $1.7bn revamp of the state’s art precinct.

While it’s no secret Lindsay Fox has donated $100m to the project, other details of the tender process are being kept firmly under wraps.

Lindsay Fox put his hand in his pockets to donate a cool $100m. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Prospective bidders will need to sign a Confidentiality Deed before being able to attend a briefing session or receive any tender documents.

They’ll have until November 3 to do it.

Overheard by Baz

“Ron Barassi was a sporting icon – player, coach and mentor – who reshaped the game and leaves behind an enormous legacy. He will be remembered for his leadership, honesty, integrity, humility, generosity, and courage.”

Premier Jacinta Allan announces AFL legend Ron Barassi will be honoured with a state memorial at the MCG on November 10.

Football legend Ron Barassi will be honoured with a state memorial. Picture: Michael Willson

Guess Who?

Which Victorian parliamentary whip has taken their job title a little too seriously, recently acquiring their position’s namesake to display in their office?