Backroom Baz: Could subtle clues signal Premier’s disdain for George Pell?

Andrews government sources say a memorial announcement for Olivia Newton-John during George Pell’s funeral was mere coincidence — but we’ll never know.

The spin team behind Daniel Andrews is still not cooking on all burners. PIcture: Andrew Henshaw

The government’s disdain for Cardinal George Pell appeared to be on display again this week. At the precise moment the late Cardinal’s funeral got under way in Sydney on Thursday, the government issued a press release announcing details of the state memorial for Olivia Newton John scheduled for the end of the month. A subtle reminder that Pell was not deemed deserving of a state tribute? Or merely a coincidence. Pell supporters were incensed by the insensitivity. Government sources insisted it was a coincidence rather than conspiracy. We’ll never know.

Former Minister for Fun Martin Pakula has landed a new job advising the AFL on major projects. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Good sport

After months of speculation about where he would end up, former Minister Fun Martin Pakula has landed a new job advising the AFL on major projects. Well known for his love of racing, Formula 1 and the Blues, many suspected his next adventure would involve sport in some way. Under government guidelines Pakula won’t be able to work on projects he was involved in as minister for 18 months. But interstate challenges such as a Tasmanian team and a temporary home for the Brisbane Lions will be enough to keep him busy. It might also pay to keep him away from any projects involving Carlton. Not for integrity purposes but simply because the team already provides him with enough stress to induce a heart attack during the regular season.

During the week, Daniel Andrews spruiked free kinder in Glenroy before being spotted not long after at a high-end menswear store in Collingwood. Picture: Gary Ramage

Dan’s days out

Among the Spring St press gallery there is an anxious wait every morning to find out where the government press conference will be. For whatever reason, such detail is among Victoria’s most tightly held state secrets. But of late the mystery may be easier to guess as it appears to factor in the premier’s schedule for the rest of the day. During the week, Andrews spruiked free kinder in Glenroy before being spotted not long after at a high-end menswear store in Collingwood. A quick pit stop for a new blue jacket on the way back to Mulgrave? A day later, the premier was in Wonthaggi opening a new hospital, a bit of a drive from Melbourne but handily close to San Remo where the Labor caucus was meeting for two days. The premier isn’t the only one to try and kill two birds with one stone. Former Health Minister Martin Foley and the former Covid commander Jeroen Weimar were known for scheduling the odd Covid update within walking distance of their homes.

Member for Berwick Brad Battin is an MP without a home at the moment. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Battin the battler

With the 60th parliament set to resume this week, the state’s honourable members are well and truly back on board. Though some appear to be having a better time of it than others. Spare a thought for member for Berwick Brad Battin who is an MP without a home at the moment after losing his electorate office as a result of last year’s electoral boundary redistribution. Baz understands that in the two months since the election, the parliamentary services team have been unable to find Battin a new place to call home, meaning he’s either working from home, a CBD office or a local cafe. Still, Baz is assured the office, when it comes, will be open five days a week unlike the Greens’ Spring St newbie Gabrielle di Vietri who is shutting shop on Fridays so she and her staff can spend time in their communities.

Baz’s spies say John Pesutto ordered Peter Walsh to apologise after criticising James Newbury. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Partyroom fracas

If he was playing baseball, Nationals leader Peter Walsh might have found himself back in the dugout by now, with some of his colleagues scratching up three strikes against his name over repeated run-ins with Liberal moderate James Newbury. The latest came at a coalition annual love-in last week, and shortly after Newbury went on morning radio and failed to denounce reports Labor was planning to ban duck hunting. Well, didn’t that get Walshy in a flap. Baz’s spies say Walsh walked into the first day of the conference, called Newbury a “f---wit” in front of everyone, then was ordered to apologise by no nonsense leader John Pesutto. It was the third time Walsh and Newbury have been involved in less than private spats, with some in the party room wondering just what a united team looks like, and if they’ll ever see one.

New bub for new pollie

As if starting a new job as a fresh-faced MP wasn’t going to be hard enough. One of the newest Spring St Liberals will now have to do it, presumably, on a little less sleep.

Baz sends heartiest congratulations to Evan Mulholland, who this week welcomed Saoirse Mary Clare Mulholland, aka “CeCe”, who is a little sister for Teddy

Already Mulholland is fielding questions about how to pronounce the name. He explains: “For those asking, Saoirse is a Gaelic name with pronunciation seer-sha. Direct translation of ‘freedom’. The name was first adopted during the Irish War of Independence.”

After a convincing win by Wayne Farnham in the Narracan supplementary election, the Liberal Party did its best to take the credit. Picture: Supplied

Victory has a thousand fathers

Talking about spin, Baz had to laugh at the machine going into overdrive at Liberal HQ this week. After a convincing win by Wayne Farnham in the Narracan supplementary election, the party did its best to take the credit. “This outcome is the result of a strong local campaign and a strong Liberal team,” journalists were told. “So many parliamentary colleagues made their way down to help out on the ground over the past month. Many independent candidates ran but we earned the result. Andrews ignored Narracan. Voters knew we had lost the election but voted for us regardless – a strong endorsement of the direction of the Liberal Party.” Nice try, fellas. The Narracan win was notched up well before the election. In fact, so confident was the party of the win, Farnham was invited to vote in the post-election leadership ballot. Losing the seat would have been harder work.

Guess who?

Which former MP has landed a job at a bottle-o since losing their seat at the election?

Overheard

“I’m often talking to him very late at night … about work” – Premier Daniel Andrews reveals his after dark phone calls with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.