Backroom Baz: Daniel Andrews’ foes line up to dish dirt for new books

The looming publication of two books featuring Premier Daniel Andrews has some bashing down the door for a copy while others are nervous.

Baz revealed a few weeks back that work was well under way on a new, unauthorised, biography about Premier Daniel Andrews.

While the Premier has been unwilling to co-operate with the read, Baz understands, many others have been only too happy to oblige.

It seems a conga line of “enemies” has been bashing the door down to help fill the pages of the book.

And its looming publication is causing some angst among the corridors of power.

To make matters worse, another book focusing on the government’s response to the pandemic is also tipped to delve into rumours and conspiracy theories that have plagued the Premier.

Think Sorrento stairs.

“The government is very nervous about both,” one well-connected source said.

Baz can’t wait to get his hand on some copies.

Premier, Daniel Andrews may have plenty of reading to attend to. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Did Tim give a car crash interview?

It was only two weeks ago that Baz reported outgoing Liberal MP Tim Smith was on the cusp of securing his post politics career – taking over from John Roskam as the executive director of the right-wing corporate funded think tank the Institute of Public Affairs.

So the announcement of Scott Hargreaves as Roskam’s replacement this week surprised more than a few.

Hargreaves — a member of the IPA since 1989 and editor of the IPA Review for the last four years — takes over from July 1.

But what happened to Tim?

“He flunked the final interview,” one well-placed source said.

Hargreaves, on the other hand, clearly impressed.

“Scott has the energy, commitment, and experience to continue to grow the IPA’s voice for freedom in Australia.

“Our country faces very substantial challenges and Australia needs the IPA now more than ever.

Tim Smith is back to job hunting. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Whether it is in relation to the National Curriculum, internet censorship, the costs of net zero, our national security, protecting our legal rights, our red tape burden or the exploding levels of state and national debt, Scott will ensure the IPA leads the debate to set Australia on the right path.”

Before working with the IPA Hargreaves was a Chief of Staff to the Minister for Finance in the Kennett government and an adviser to Anglo American plc, and a Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Origin Energy.

Roskam will continue working at the IPA as a Research Fellow at the IPA’s newly-established Centre for the Australian Way of Life.

As for Tim, who knows what’s next.

But Baz is confident he’s heart is still on Spring St. Could he find a new home in the upper house?

Bernie’s a party of one

Is Bernie Finn on the verge of doing a Craig Kelly?

Rumours of Finn’s impending exit from the Liberal Party are heating up, with whispers reaching Baz that he is in serious discussions about joining a new party.

It will, of course, depend on whether the rank and file decide to give him another run around the block, but most think his chances of being preselected again are shot.

With his latest controversy over his provocative anti-abortion stance adding to a long list of outrageous commentary, many Libs think his time is up.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Bernie Finn smile – for the cameras anyway.

And with senior Morrison government adviser Mark Briers set to challenge him, Finn could be out of luck.

Finn himself says publicly he’s not thinking too far ahead.

But can we believe him?

Just this week he told us he hadn’t spoken to opposition leader Matthew Guy in months.

Then Baz stumbled upon this picture of the two of them together last week during a visit to Millennium House in Footscray.

Now, people have called him many things, but a wallflower Finn is not.

So it’s hardly likely the pair stood in silence.

A hint of hypocrisy

On Finn, Baz had to laugh over the furore that followed his comments.

Not that the abortion debate is a laughing matter. But in his condemnation of Finn, Daniel Andrews said a lot of Victorian women would be “sick and tired of listening to blokes tell them what they should be doing with their bodies”.

Baz couldn’t agree more.

But coming from the bloke who told them they had to be vaccinated, or be shunned from society, he reckons the Premier’s choice of words on this occasion was unusually off the mark.

Rick rolling is way to PM

With one week to go until the Federal election, Baz was pleased to see this meme come to life.

An MP who won’t give us up, let us down, tell a lie, or make us cry.

Sounds too good to be true.

But if it were a chance, Baz reckons Rick would be PM by Saturday.

A candidate we can all get behind.

Is that you, Dan?

I spy a Dan lookalike

Baz enjoys it when kindly readers send in tidbits. And he was tickled pink to receive this photo during the week. Anyone see the resemblance? Daniel Andrews wasn’t in Edithvale this week, was he?

Mother’s Day announcement

Politics is a tough game.

More often than not negative, and nasty. So when there’s good news, Baz is only to happy to share it.

After a years-long struggle, about which she’s spoken publicly, Minister Gabrielle Williams is expecting her first child.

Williams, who has been very open about her own gruelling struggle to become a mum, announced the news on Facebook on Mother’s Day, sharing an ultrasound pic of baby Williams.

“Baby boy Williams, due in October,” she posted. “And to the team who made him possible – my IVF specialist, embryologists, nurses, doctors, anaesthetists, counsellors, family & friends who cared and comforted along the way, and the very important sperm donor – THANK YOU.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Sometimes it takes a village to make one.” Heartiest, and most sincere, congratulations Gab.

Take it from Baz, it’s a rollercoaster. And you’ll love every minute.

Guess who

Which Melbourne comedian is considering a tilt at politics?