Backroom Baz: Former premier Ted Baillieu’s son Robert considers tilt at state parliament

The son of former premier Ted Baillieu is eyeing a career in politics but he has very different views to his famous father.

Could another Baillieu be eyeing off a career in politics?

Baz is told the son of former Liberal premier Ted Baillieu could be weighing up a tilt at state parliament, following in the footsteps of his famous father. Sort of.

If he does run, the young Robert Baillieu is tipped to do so as a teal independent, hot off the heels of an uber-successful stint as volunteer manager for Monique Ryan’s campaign.

What Baz knows for sure is that whatever he does, Rob won’t be running for his dad’s party.

In a scathing attack on the party last month, Rob slammed the culture of Liberal MPs, saying a “lack of substantive leadership has caused the Liberal Party to lose its way”.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to be rich, nor powerful, at the expense of others. That’s not my business. I don’t claim to be a good person.

“But I’m trying to be, and that’s more than I can say for many modern Liberal Party MPs.” Ouch.

Rob Baillieu flying the flag — literally — for Monique Ryan.

Charm offensive falls flat

Given the persistent rumours that Tim Smith was eyeing a gig in the upper house, Baz was not surprised to see him bob up again during the week.

After seven months of lying very low Smith shot out of the blocks penning a road map for Liberal victory before giving a teary mea culpa radio interview.

Is this the beginning of a comeback, with a media charm offensive? Maybe. But Baz is told it went down inside the party like a lead balloon. So what next?

A job in London could be it, with Smith to jet off imminently. Baz believes he’s had some work organised for him should he wish.

Tim Smith snapped with his Tudge T-shirt.

A glum Frydenberg after his federal election loss. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“He’s still considering the upper house but the volcanic internal reaction he received to his interventions this week has diluted this enthusiasm,” a source said.

Shame, after all the effort he went to handing out how-to-vote cards for Alan Tudge.

Curious though that with Tim being the only state Liberal in the electorate of Kooyong, Baz thought he may have been campaigning for old mate Josh Frydenberg, who helped launch and sustain Smith’s career.

And when it all came crashing down (quite literally) it was Josh who had Tim’s back, insisting to anyone who would listen that his drink-drive car smash need not end his career.

Baz suspects there’s some bad blood between the pair. But why? Watch this space.

Give us your staff

The downfall of the federal Libs has led to a prolonged post-mortem of the party’s missteps. And while the party was brutalised in Victoria, some in the state branch are looking at a sliver of silver lining.

Being turfed out of government means a gaggle of political staff are unemployed and looking for work. No doubt some will be canvassed for a new challenge – taking down Premier Dan Andrews.

Naturally this leads to questions about whether the marketing guru and current chief of staff to Matthew Guy, Mitch Catlin, will stay in his role, and if there could be a broader reshuffle in the office.

While there’s no suggestion of an imminent spill, some state Liberals say new blood could re-energise the team and provide options for a change of style – and they’re not talking about Catlin’s flashy jackets.

Guess who’s back, back again, Timmy’s back, tell a friend.

The one-time attack dog of the Liberal Party, Tim Smith is a rare sight on Spring St nowadays.

Since announcing he was hanging up his parliamentary hat we don’t get the chance to see the member for Kew very often.

So Baz was stunned to see him handing out how to vote cards for Alan Tudge before the federal election.

Joining the exit queue

Is there a frantic search to find a new Labor candidate to run in the seat of Hawthorn?

Spies close to ALP HQ say yes, after John Kennedy flagged he was walking away from politics.

And we say walking quite literally, the septuagenarian has never learned to drive and gets around using public transport.

Kennedy was in his 60s when he first joined the ALP and first ran against former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg for the seat of Kooyong in the 2013 federal election before snatching the jewel in the Liberals’ crown from John Pesutto at the 2018 state election.

John Kennedy might be walking away from politics. Picture: David Geraghty

Quite the feat too, it was the first time Labor won the seat since 1955.

And now the seat is very much in play, the hunt is on for a formidable replacement to take on Pesutto who is hoping to win the seat back.

Should Kennedy call it quits he’ll be joining a conga line of ALP veterans including former attorney general Jill Hennessy and respected stalwart Richard Wynne.

Persistent whispers that minister for fun Martin Pakula and treasurer Tim Pallas will both leave Spring St refuse to die.

Looking for his yellow brick road

Special shoutout to First Dog Toto, who has become somewhat of an internet hit since man dad Anthony Albanese won the country’s top job last week. One thing’s for sure, you’re not in Marrickville anymore, Toto.

Guess who

Which TV journo covering the federal election requested to only cover a Liberal Party event?