Backroom Baz: Jenny Mikakos could front iCook slug inquiry

The iCook slug saga inquiry could feature a bombshell appearance by former health minister Jenny Mikakos. Backroom Baz with the Spring St scuttlebutt.

iCook boss Ian Cook was forced to close his business. Picture: Alex Coppel

Is Jenny Mikakos Slug-gate’s secret witness?

The reopened inquiry into iCook kicks off this week and there have been rumours Mikakos could be asked to testify in her capacity as former health minister during the events of the saga.

Baz understands the Coalition would love to see it happen, but whether or not Jenny from the North Metropolitan Region actually gives evidence is very much up in the air.

Those who oppose the idea are doubtful she will be well placed to make contributions about the bombshell evidence that resulted in the probe being reopened.

It’s also unlikely that she would see the inquiry as the best forum to air any grievances she may have with the state government, although that would be entertaining.

Either way, the slug-gate probe will be good lockdown viewing now that the Olympics are over.

Mikakos has kept her comments to social media since stepping down as health minister. Picture: Getty Images

CLEANING UP

Postponing parliament may save journalists and politicians a commute, but it’s a nightmare for those who have to clean up the mess.

Parliamentary workers and office staffers were sent scrambling by the chief health officer’s request to ditch the sitting week as it threw out a week’s worth of plans.

Inquiries can only hand down their final report if their committee chairs are in the room to table them and similar delays triggered a frenzy of apologetic phone calls to people lined up for government reports.

The process also threw a massive spanner in the works for the Premier’s forgotten child, Infrastructure Victoria, which was due to table its 30-year strategy on Wednesday but had to push it back by 24 hours to work out how to get it released.

The unfortunate result was that the important document was released at the same time as a report from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office about transport projects and the investment case for the Suburban Rail Loop.

There’s going to be one hell of a document dump when all of this is over.

FRUITS OF HER LABOUR

Not all of us were looking forward to a sitting week on Spring St, but Eastern Metro MP Sonja Terpstra certainly was.

So excited, in fact, she appears to have mixed up her fresh produce.

Posting on social media, Terpstra suggested a “veggie swap” as parliament was set to resume and posted a photo of her bountiful backyard collection of mandarins.

But sadly mandarins are fruits, not vegetables, and would be disqualified if any such event took place.

A fruit swap, however, is something Baz could get behind, but only if the fruits are grapes which have been fermented and bottled.

COUNTING THE DINNER BEANS

Tongues are still wagging after Baz mentioned a fundraiser for Steve Dimopoulos, valued at $4000 a ticket, that had to be postponed because of our latest lockdown.

Treasurer Tim Pallas was slated to make an appearance as a special guest.

Initially talk had been rife that the tip off was an internal job. In Victorian Labor? Oh how cynical.

But the other thing that got people upset was that other Labor candidates couldn’t do the same thing.

A state Cabinet agreement, or premier’s edict, depending who you ask, states that Andrews government ministers won’t be attending fundraisers for Labor candidates in the upcoming federal elections.

New donation laws and previous media backlash have meant some consider the idea too risky, except when it’s for state caucus members.

It might be sensible policy but there are a few bean counters within the Victorian branch who are a bit put out about being cut out.

THE INSTA INFLUENCER

Does Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith pay a photographer to follow him around?

If he doesn’t, a wistful Instagram influencer appears to have taken over his social media.

Most politicians accept they need to have a visible presence online, but Smith has taken to the task of content creator with much gusto.

Photo highlights include planting trees and an intriguingly moody photo of the MP looking quizzical in the gardens at parliament as he ponders “Why is Victoria the only state to endure six lockdowns?”

Others are a bit more low-key and have the appearance of pictures from the family holiday scrapbook.

But it’s the latest one, posted on Friday, that takes the cake as it depicts him walking down the corridors of parliament with an inspirational quote.

“Every day I am filled with purpose because we have such a strong community that knows what they need.”

A man who has made his peace with the factions.

GUESS WHO

Which federal minister’s media adviser is refusing to give out his mobile phone number to colleagues and journalists?