Backroom Baz: Lib leadership rumbles getting louder
Who is the Liberal MP secretly meeting with Melbourne powerbrokers in a bid to drum up support to challenge embattled leader Michael O’Brien?
Victoria
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Has a Liberal MP been meeting with Melbourne powerbrokers in a bid to drum up support for a tilt at the leadership?
Baz is told, absolutely they have.
Spies say the MP has been secretly meeting with potential benefactors, and has been outlining policy plans in a bid to secure enough support to mount a challenge against embattled leader Michael O’Brien.
One well-informed source told Baz “he’s already got the support of Jeff Kennett, so it’s real, and it’s on’’.
Those close to the key players say there’s nothing to see here and for a long time, Baz believed them.
But the mood is changing.
As Baz always says, watch this space.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Every time Premier Dan Andrews coughs, the rumour mill cranks up.
Last week it went into overdrive when the premier fell down wet steps, cancelling a media event and ending up in hospital. Baz has heard them all!
Baz wishes Dan all the best, of course, and hopes the wild rumours don’t make him chuckle too hard — a painful experience at the moment.
As usual the “demise of Dan” also brought with it a flurry of speculation about potential successors. Most of the usual names got a run — Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan and Deputy Premier James Merlino among them.
The group formerly known as the Cons was quietly pushing their man, Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll, as they seemingly back away from another right-wing candidate, Jobs Minister Martin Pakula.
It’s all a bit half-hearted, and keeps some MPs more preoccupied than others who are sure Dan isn’t going anywhere, broken back and all.
WHAT’S NEXT ON ASTEN’S AGENDA
What’s next for Liberal figure Andrew Asten?
After a busy 12 months being up to his neck in the Menzies preselection battle, things are settling following Keith Wolahan’s defeat of long-time MP and former minister Kevin Andrews.
Asten, a known ally of Andrews and chair of the Menzies branch, caused quite a stir through his involvement. This included an urgent appeal for a federal investigation at a time when things weren’t looking good for Andrews.
Towards the end, questions were also raised about whether he was impartial enough to lead the voting process.
But since the surprisingly decisive result it sounds like the political discourse in Menzies has quietened down to a polite murmur, prompting speculation about where Asten might go next.
Rumour is rife he could step down at next month’s AGM to focus on other battles in the state. His name has been floated as a potential candidate who will battle for Scott Ryan’s senate seat when it becomes vacant.
Baz suspects the party hasn’t seen the last of the at-times controversial figure.
GETTING A SERVE AT THE MARKET
Baz is told police were called to the popular family friendly Elwood Community Market last weekend to ensure Liberal MP James Newbury wasn’t getting harassed after a recent controversial tweet.
The Brighton MP went on a rant on social media declaring crossbencher Reason Party MP Fiona Patten had “more positions than the Kama Sutra” sparking an angry backlash.
It followed Patten’s changing views on supporting an extension to the State of Emergency Bill much to the dismay of the Opposition.
Newbury’s tweet riled up some of his constituents who posted on an Elwood community Facebook page urging hundreds of Greens supporters to heckle him at Elwood Primary’s monthly event.
One woman wrote, “If someone sees him at this week’s Elwood market, can you please give him a piece of your mind”.
While another wrote, “Don’t forget you nearly lost Brighton to a backpacking kid on a gap year”, referring to 19-year-old Labor candidate Declan Martin who came within a whisker of pipping Newbury at the post in the 2018 election.
“It’s disappointing that the Greens would incite anti-social behaviour at a local community event,” he told Baz.
EVEN SUPERHEROES WEAR MASKS
A bold bid by a try-it-on barrister went down like a lead balloon, after he tried to convince a judge that masks shouldn’t be compulsory in his courtroom.
The reason, he argued, was obvious: he was running a criminal defence before a jury, and the mask made him look like a villain.
Not so, said the judge. Why, many respectable professionals wore masks to work. Doctors, nurses, dentists, to name a few.
“Even superheroes wear masks!” the judge quipped.
Application refused.
On the issue of face protection, registry staff at the same court were particularly grateful this week for the perspex screens installed to combat COVID when an angry customer spat at them after receiving news that left him less than pleased.
It was a classic case of spit and run, with the man evading police who tried to chase him. Still, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to hide.
“We’ll get him,” a top court security boffin told Baz. “He’s on CCTV every which way. It’s only a matter of time.”
GUESS WHO?
Which former MP has set tongues wagging by spending significant time with one of their former staff members?
OVERHEARD
“Hope it’s not serious. Wishing Daniel a speedy recovery.”
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien extends a rare show of support to Premier Daniel Andrews.
GOT SOMETHING FOR BAZ? LET HIM KNOW AT backroombaz@news.com.au
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