Backroom Baz: Legal eagles wince over hair-raising flaming by former judge

Few in legal circles can remember such a public spat between senior judicial figures as that between an ex-High Court judge and the state’s chief prosecutor — but it wasn’t the first time.

Former High Court judge Geoffrey Nettle flamed Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd.

The flaming of Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd by former High Court judge Geoffrey Nettle was the legal equivalent of dragging someone to a town square for a public flogging.

Few in legal circles can remember such a public spat between senior judicial figures as that which was aired this week when Nettle, now Victoria’s Special Investigator probing the Lawyer X scandal, slammed Judd over her refusal to endorse the laying of charges in relation to the infamous legal affair.

Baz is told some close to Judd were left incensed by Nettle’s refusal to give her a right of reply to his stinging report. Legislation requires that where an adverse finding is to be made against someone in a special report, as handed down by Nettle, they be given the opportunity to view the report and respond in turn.

No such courtesy was extended to Judd, with Nettle. We should not forget, of course, this is not the first public flaming of Judd by Nettle.

He was of course still sitting on the bench of the High Court when she was roasted during George Pell’s successful appeal. Some who witnessed the roasting that day still wince.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd, QC.

Cutting all ties

Has a ban been put on independent Liberal MP Moira Deeming from independently attending Liberal Party events?

Baz is told most certainly it has.

Word has reached this desk that Deeming has recently been “uninvited” from rank and file Liberal Party meetings where she had been due to speak.

Word is that grassroots members have been pressured into cutting all ties with the upper house MP, who remains a proud Liberal, despite being exiled from the parliamentary team.

One wonders just how far the ban will go, or whether anyone from the admin committee that has refused to move to boot Deeming from the party, will step in? Watch this space.

Moira Deeming has recently been ‘uninvited’ from rankd and file Liberal Party meetings. Picture: Ian Currie

Plan to win west

Baz’s spies have spotted Liberal activist and former Sydneysider Rebecca Burdick Davies back in town of late. There is speculation she has been flown into town to take charge of dwindling operations in the West. It’s believed Burdick Davies has been planted in the sleepy Williamstown Liberal Branch, from where she has been hastily activated and connected to local branches and groups. Word is that Burdick Davies is a very impressive operator and wasted no time in arranging a business breakfast in Williamstown with guest speakers Deputy Liberal Leader David Southwick, Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier and local Western Metro MP Trung Luu last week.

Long and stony road

It’s been almost 20 years, but the long-running restoration of Parliament House’s stoneworks is almost complete. The official line is that the current and final stage is scheduled to be completed in 2023-24, with the total project on track to cost almost $90m. But the way construction goes, who knows what blowouts could still lie ahead. Especially with some stone sourced from Udelfanger Quarry in Germany, after no suitable local substitute could be found.

It appears former Premier Jeff Kennett could do with a Twitter refresher course. Courtesy Twitter

Tweet makes twit out of Jeff

It took Baz a while to figure out Twitter, although now its safe to say @backroombaz is a major success. Former Premier Jeff Kennett, who is no stronger to the ropes, could still use a few pointers. This week he responded to a parody account for Anthony Albanese mistakenly thinking it was the Prime Minister. Particularly funny given the account accused Albo of paying “a woman named Jodie to pretend to be my girlfriend”.

“You are not Old Albo,” Kennett wrote. “You are just more experienced. The rest I have no comment on except Go Hawks”.

Quite a wholesome interaction, shame it was addressed to the wrong bloke.

Labor giant passed unscathed

Baz was saddened to learn of the passing of Labor giant Thomas Roper this week.

In his two decades at Spring St Roper worked across a range of portfolios including Treasury, Planning and Environment, Health, Transport, Aboriginal Affairs, and Employment and Higher Education.

There are few that leave politics unscathed, but the honourable minister was a rare exception and according to all who knew him and worked with him, a thoroughly top bloke.

Fittingly, he will be honoured with a state funeral.

Vale, minister.

Overheard

“I will miss you in the winter, I will miss you more than you know, I will pine and ache for you.”

Daniel Andrews farewells opposition leader John Pesutto ahead of the winter break.

Guess Who?

Which two MPs were spotted on Bourke St going for a run together on a sitting day?

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz?

Twitter @BackroomBaz