Backroom Baz: Deeming plans gala as Liberal MPs given social media, fundraising KPIs
What makes a good Liberal MP? Sources have revealed to Backroom Baz that MPs are being scored in performance reviews against targets for monthly fundraising and social media reach.
Close readers of Baz will remember that Liberal MP Moira Deeming was conspicuously left off a recent invite and guest list for a western suburbs fundraising gala. Odd, given she’s been appointed the party’s special envoy in that part of the world.
Well, now Deeming appears to be organising her one fundraising gala. And it’s serious business.
MPs have to fundraise for elections, and their efforts, Baz is told, forms part of their job assessment for performance reviews. Sources say the party’s state leadership have made KPIs for MPs measuring both monthly fundraising and social media outreach.
Deputy leader Sam Groth is said to be the party’s number one fundraiser, while Warrandyte MP Nicole Werner is the social media whizz.
Baz hears donations for Deeming, and attendance at next month’s fundraiser, are doing just nicely, which will be an annoyance to those who hoped she’d be preparing her exit from politics.
Baz reckons there’s no chance of that. “If they want her out, they’ll have to blast her out,” one key supporter said.
Is this the hardest working MP in Victoria?
Media scrutiny so often focuses on the lowest performing MPs on Spring St. Who misses parliament the most, who speaks in the chamber the least.
But what about the hardest working? There are relatively few in the field angling for that title, but one of them must be Leader of the Opposition in the upper house, David Davis.
Davis clocks up 30 years in the chamber next year and time doesn’t appear to have slowed him.
Baz’s spies say the document’s tzar, and stickler for parliamentary procedure, currently has more than 100 Freedom of Information requests on the go, at varying stages.
Some freshly lodged, others years into lengthy and complex legal battles. 10 points for effort.
Slice of taxpayer funded cheese, please?
It seems nothing brings Labor and Liberal MPs together quite like taxpayer funded cheese.
Baz noted this week a cheese wheel is placed on the counter of the MP’s private bar at 5pm each sitting day.
Baz can’t enter the sacred space, it’s strictly off limits, but his nose knows. And MPs flocking from far and wide added an extra tell-all sign. Some duck in and cut off a slice — some larger than others — on the way into the chamber while others pull up a chair.
Baz hears the wheel is so popular that some cop elbows to the ribs if they don’t get out of the way. The pros know you’ve just got to get in first.
Among them this week was Opposition Leader Brad Battin who was spotted at least twice nibbling away. Perks of the job!
Greg Mirabella v Phil Davis
Could it be back to the future for the Victorian Liberal Party? Baz has confirmed that former party president Greg Mirabella will throw his hat back in the ring to oust incumbent Phil Davis.
Mirabella stood down from the role in 2023, a year after the party’s third successive election drubbing. At the time, he warned that warring factions had to stop airing their grievances publicly.
Sources say Mirabella will struggle to get the support to topple Davis — but they warned that wasn’t a ringing endorsement for the former MP.
“Look, the fact is he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s just no one else to get behind, so he’ll probably hang on,” one said.
Baz is told Davis has faced internal pressure to stand aside in recent weeks. While it might be guns at 50 paces for some Liberals, for others it’s all wine and roses.
A group of women from the party’s moderate flank joined forces this week to celebrate former MP Louise Staley’s 60th birthday.
Baz is told behind the smiles there remains some animosity between some in the group.
Expelled Liberal MP plans political comeback
Former outspoken Liberal MP Bernie Finn is planning a political comeback.
Finn was expelled from the Liberal Party before joining the Democratic Labour Party and then Family First.
He has been endorsed to run for Family First in the upper house at next year’s state election after running for the Senate in this year’s federal election.
“I am honoured to stand as Family First’s candidate for the Victorian Upper House,” he said.
“I will fight every day to preserve the innocence of children, to secure parents’ rights, and to stand unyieldingly against the woke nonsense that erodes our social fabric.
“I will also fight for rational energy policy and push back on the net zero nonsense promoted by Liberal and Labor which is destroying the wealth of Victorian mums and dads.”
Finn was replaced in his Western Metropolitan seat by Moira Deeming in the lead up to the 2022 state election.
He first entered state parliament in 1992 and was expelled from the parliamentary Liberal Party following a series of anti-abortion comments and other controversies.
Cue the vegan burgers at Hunters for the Hungry
Once upon a time the only greens at a hunter’s BBQ were camouflage. Now? Cue the vegan burgers.
In a sure sign that we are most certainly in, and possibly beyond 2025, Baz received his invite to the third annual Hunters for the Hungry Game Meat BBQ this week.
And for the first time gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are all on the menu. Yep, lentil burgers at a hunter’s BBQ.
Baz is reliably informed Liberal MP Bill Tilley was most unimpressed. It’s bipartisan brisket and cultural compromise on a paper plate. But it is all for a good cause.
The Hunters for the Hungry initiative sees hunters donate game meat to food banks and charities, providing protein to those in need.
It addresses both food insecurity and the waste of game meat from culls and recreational hunting.
Baz will be watching, Will the tofu crowd try the ribs? Will the hunters sneak a second helping of vegan slaw? Probably not! But in 2025, they’ll stand in the same buffet line, and that’s basically progress.
