Backroom Baz: The mystery of the missing Public Account and Estimates Committee hearing witnesses

Sources say most witnesses have pulled out of a looming Public Account and Estimates Committee hearing, so could too many loose-lipped bureaucrats in one room threaten a political headache for the government?

Could the missing PAEC hearing witnesses cause a headache for the government? Picture: Luis Ascui

Victoria’s Public Account and Estimates Committee is more often than not regarded as a partisan stunt.

Ostensibly it’s there to scrutinise the state budget, and probe ministers and senior departmental executives on how our hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

In reality the government-controlled committee is used to spruik the government’s message under the cover of scrutiny, while opposition probing is routinely shut down amid furious objection to often sound questioning.

But a new one this week, with news that more than half of the witnesses expected at tomorrow’s hearing have withdrawn. Sources say 14 of 25 witnesses have pulled out of the hearing that will probe, among other things, the critical transport infrastructure portfolio and the government’s Suburban Rail Loop.

Just why so many senior public servants have pulled out is anyone’s guess. Maybe there were concerns too many loose-lipped bureaucrats in one room could cause a political headache for a government so desperate to ensure everyone is singing from the same hymn book?

On the face of it, it appears a worrying affront to proper process. But Baz is sure there’s a sound explanation. No, really, he is.

Back to the future?

Last week Baz reported former Property Council supremo Danni Hunter had missed out on the top job at the Master Builders Association of Victoria.

Sources say Hunter is now plotting an incredible back to the future move that would see her back at the UDIA Vic (that’s Urban Development Institute of Australia for the uninitiated). Hunter was there until 2020 when she took up a gig with the Property Council.

Now Baz is told she’s seriously considering a UDIA comeback, replacing Matthew Kandelaars who replaced her. Watch this space.

Victorian MP Lee Tarlamis in the upper house. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

That colour suits you, Lee

Baz has long admired the sartorial splendour of upper house government whip Lee Tarlamis.

If you want to look a million bucks, take a leaf out of Lee’s book. Well, Baz has learnt the secret behind the fashionisto: his wife.

It turns out Mrs Talarmis is a hell of a tailor and has made him a variety of suits in every colour of the rainbow, as evidenced by the orange number he was spotted in during a recent sitting week.

It is not just a happy coincidence that the suit-loving MP found someone who enjoys making them.

The husband-and-wife relationship started out as customer-and-tailor, and Talarmis was so smitten he just kept coming back for more. Now he gets them free!

The Liberal Party logo has reappeared on Ms Deeming’s Facebook page. Picture: Facebook

Deeming still has blue hue

They might have kicked the MP out of the Liberal Party, but it seems you can’t kick the Liberal Party out of the MP.

Eagle-eyed Spring St watchers may have noticed the Liberal Party’s logo reappear on exiled MP Moira Deeming’s branding this week. Following her initial suspension from the party, Deeming was quick to rebrand herself as an independent MP featuring the purple hue of the women’s movement. Baz understands Deeming was told she was not to use Liberal Party references.

It had one source pondering whether Deeming could be deliberately provoking her former party leader John Pesutto?

She’s certainly not upsetting all in the party. Benefiting from a substantial boost in staff numbers as a now Liberal independent, she has recently hired Young Liberal and conservative writer Matt Stratton on +a part-time basis.

Stratton has written in defence of Deeming, so Baz is not surprised by the pairing.

With a defamation action now almost certain to hit the courts, there can be only one winner, Deeming or Pesutto. Time will tell.

Opening door to democracy

President of the Legislative Council Shaun Leane is no fan of Baz.

But given he’s not one to hold a grudge, Baz wanted to give the fine prez and Speaker of the lower house, Maree Edwards, a shout out for their commitment to opening parliament up to the masses.

The presiding officers fronted the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on Friday where they spruiked their plans to make Victoria’s house of democracy more accessible to all.

Plans include making the building easier for people with disabilities to get around, and boosting the number of school kids invited in for tours.

There are plans for the hosting of a function celebrating the Big Issue this year, when vendors of the street magazine will be invited in as guests. Leane told the committee he was struck recently by the reactions of a group of volunteers who couldn’t believe their luck when they, too, were invited for a function.

The presiding officers are cutting no corners getting people in, even relaxing the menu of the restaurant to make it more user friendly (read, cheaper) for all. A brilliant initiative.

Overheard by Baz

“This is a joke. You guys are a joke, you’ve got no interest in accountability or transparency, you should be embarrassed.”

— Nationals MP Danny O’Brien expressing his views on government MPs on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz?

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