Backroom Baz: Matthew Guy’s one-off TV ad came with $40,000 cost

Opposition leader Matthew Guy’s new video spruiking him as an average bloke has apparently come with an anything but ordinary price tag.

A new ad spruiking opposition leader Matthew Guy has got Spring St talking.

Much was made of the Office-style interview format in which Guy shared his vision for Victoria, and told of his love of meat pies, Holden cars and VBs.

How very 1980s, Baz thought.

But what really had people talking was the cost of running the 90 second ad during prime time Sunday night viewing.

TV land sources reckon it would have cost the Libs north of $40,000 for the one off showing. That’s a lot of coin!

Matthew Guy’s video gave us David Brent vibes.

3, 2, 1, FAIL

Election time means full throttle social media assault. Videos, pictures, witty slogans, the works.

Whoever’s running the opposition media is going to have to pull their socks up if they want to shake the “amateur” tag.

It seems they forgot to edit a video of opposition leader Matthew Guy posted earlier this month promising $27.3m in new funding for Sovereign Hill.

Unless of course Guy asked for the countdown to the clip to be left in, which seems highly unlikely.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2446906338773712

BIDING THEIR BY-ELECTION TIME

Remember when Labor’s preselection carnage had everyone bracing for a looming set of Spring St by-elections?

None of the party’s ousted MPs have felt like pulling the trigger over summer but insiders are still preparing for drama.

Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz is among the most likely to bow out, but most believe that will happen closer to June.

A resignation around that time would frustrate the government but also be far enough away from the November statewide poll that they would have no choice but to go through an arduous by-election.

Another name mentioned frequently is Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, who many believe has a good incentive to go early because of his favourable pension scheme.

In Liberal land all eyes are still watching Kew closely, where speculation is mounting that car crash MP Tim Smith could yet pull the pin, and force the good people of Kew to the ballot box.

Marlene Kairouz could be waiting to strike at the most inopportune time for the government. Picture: Ellen Smith

But Luke Donnellan’s pension benefits could see him go earlier. Picture: Sarah Matray

AS CLEAR AS MUD

Poor old Member for Nepean, Chris Brayne, doesn’t seem to know if he’s coming or going. Two identical pictures, spruiking the same big government spend.

But spot the difference. So, is the money going to Rosebud Primary or Rosebud Secondary? Depends whether you’re reading his Facebook or mail-out brochure.

As Yes, Minister public servant extraordinaire Bernard Woolley once explained: “The fact that you needed to know was not known at the time that the now known need to know was known, and therefore those that needed to advise and inform the Home Secretary perhaps felt that the information that he needed as to whether to inform the highest authority of the known information was not yet known, and therefore there was no authority for the authority to be informed because the need to know was not, at that time, known or needed.”

Precisely. Maybe Mr Brayne just didn’t need to know.

Chris Brayne promoting the works at Rosebud Primary School.

Wait what? Now it’s Rosebud Secondary College.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

In an election year nothing can be left to chance.

Which is why despite very strong polling, Baz’s spies say Labor types on Spring St are still suitably anxious about November’s election.

So much so that there are whispers about the potential return of at least one former prominent staffer who has gone off to bigger and better things in an attempt to bolster campaign efforts. After the Danslide of 2018, why not look to the past to lock in future success.

Watch this space.

A REASON FOR MOTIVATION

It’s not only Labor looking to boost campaign efforts. Reason Victoria is also on the hunt for a campaign manager to co-ordinate efforts at a federal and state level. Only “motivated, talented, and passionate” campaign managers need apply, so says the ad.

GUESS WHO

Which former politician was seen stumbling away from a long lunch then taking some quick relief kerbside, in broad daylight?