Backroom Baz: Daniel Andrews invited on tour of Victoria’s damaged roads

Liberal MP Roma Britnell wants Dan Andrews riding shotgun as they hurtle through regional Victoria on a Thelma & Louise-style tour of crumbling roads.

Liberal MP Roma Britnell has extended a road-trip invite to Daniel Andrews.

Picture it: Daniel Andrews in the passenger seat, Liberal MP Roma Britnell behind the wheel, hurtling through regional Victoria like Thelma & Louise.

Sounds crazy? Well, it’s precisely what Britnell, the member for South-West Coast, wants to happen.

She has challenged the Premier to jump in her car so she can take him for a spin around regional Victoria’s damaged roads. The opposition has been campaigning on this for some time. It even pledged $10bn to fix the roads ahead of November’s election.

“I would, lastly, like to issue the invitation to the Premier to come and drive on our roads,” Britnell said in parliament last week.

“I will drive, I know them; I will not hurt you. You probably could not do it yourself, though.”

Baz doesn’t reckon there’s anything Dan can’t do. And while he might do anything for Victoria, Baz is pretty sure he won’t do that.

Baz thinks there’s little chance of Dan and Roma taking their trip.

Dan cuts a fine figure

Daniel Andrews is finally eligible for his bronze statue.

Clocking up 3000 days as Premier is no easy feat, and a lot has happened since he won the job on December 4, 2014. Fires, floods and pandemics, for starters.

He’s sacked ministers, faced corruption inquiries (lots) and passed some legislation – launched a voluntary assisted dying regimen, Victoria’s first drug injecting room, protection zones around abortion clinics, a ban on gay conversion therapies, anti-association laws, and a deal with Traditional Owners to be the first state to begin treaty negotiations … to name but a few jobs.

Should he choose to accept the honour, Dan will be immortalised alongside Henry Bolte, John Cain Jr, Dick Hamer and Alfred Dunstan whose statues stand outside No.1 Treasury Place.

There will doubtless be many a statue debate. But love him or loathe him, 3000 days running a state is a big deal. So Baz can only say, quite earnestly, congrats, Premier.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he cares not for being cast in bronze. Picture: AAP

Back among friends

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Although sanctioned by his own party, controversial Labor figure Jasvinder Sidhu is never far away from his allies in the Socialist Left and has again found a home within the Andrews government.

Insiders couldn’t help but scoff recently after they learnt Sidhu had secured work as an electorate officer for factional comrades and new MPs Mat Hilakari and Dylan Wight.

IBAC last year took a dim view of Labor MP staffers being linked to factional dealing, but “days” of work in MPs’ offices are still a currency for some powerbrokers.

In 2020, Sidhu received a suspension from running for office with Labor after an internal process charged him with branch stacking and racist language.

But he still appears to hold influence in his faction, securing his current work with two SL MPs and working for upper house MP Lee Tarlamis in the last term.

Disco Dave back on the decks

Disco Dave Southwick looks set to make a comeback, moonlighting in his time away from his busy schedule as deputy Opposition Leader.

Southwick — a famed DJ in Melbourne’s Jewish community before he entered politics — has promised to again hit the decks for Zionism Victoria’s annual celebration of Israel.

But only if a $10,000 fundraising target is met in support of Ukrainian and Russian refugees.

Disco Dave Southwick looks set to make a comeback as a famed DJ in Melbourne's Jewish community. Picture: Supplied

An epic dressing down

Legislative Council president Shaun Leane has taken dressing down in the office to another level, sporting a beach chic getup to star in a parliament of Victoria video spruiking the first sitting week back of 2023.

Baz reckons if it’s good enough for el Presidente, it should be T-shirts and thongs for all! Imagine.

Call Baz a pathetic old snob, but he reckons a collar isn’t too much to ask for in such a grand institution.

Legislative Council president Shaun Leane looked ever so casual as he featured in a Parliament of Victoria video. Picture: Supplied

Size matters

An entry on new Labor MP Luba Grigorovitch’s register of interests has raised eyebrows in the business world. While having little else to declare, Grigorovitch points out “my partner jointly runs Australia’s largest private equity firm BGH Capital.”

She is of course referring to Ben Gray, who she married at a real knees up in Sorrento a few weeks back.

But is BGH Australia’s largest private equity firm? More than a few people whispering in Baz’s ear say no.

And a quick Google search suggests the same. Still, an MP can never be too careful in their disclosures.

Ben Gray and Luba Grigorovitch at their Sorrento wedding. Picture: APL Photography

Guess who?

Which state or territory leader channels Elvis, Cher and Madonna in signing official documents with only their first name?

Overheard

“He’s been an outstanding Premier and he’s led us through some of the most difficult times our state’s ever faced and he gets up and works hard every day. We’re very grateful and fortunate to have him,” senior Minister Ben Carroll tips his hat to the boss.