Backroom Baz: Was it the legal threat that sent Liberal MP Matt Bach packing?

Liberal MP Matt Bach shocked many when he announced his resignation this week, prompting whispers it may have something to do with a controversial activist’s defamation threat.

Women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen threatened defamation action against Bach and his former Liberal Party leadership amigos this week.

The now former member of the Victorian Liberal Party’s leadership quartet, Matt Bach, shocked many when he announced his resignation this week.

Rumours of his political exit had been swirling for more than a week, prompting vehement denials from Bach. And when Baz says vehement, he means categorical, unequivocal, emphatic denials.

Of course those denials were plain untruths, as Bach was knees deep in a lengthy selection process for a posh British school that wants him to be their next assistant principal. Of course Bach is free to keep his cards close to his chest, but that hasn’t stopped anger among some of his colleagues and closest confidants who reported feeling completely betrayed by his willingness to deceive them. Politics can be cruel.

What’s most interesting about Bach’s exit is that just eight months ago he was seriously considering a tilt at the party leadership.

Despite his insistence that he truly believes the party can win government in 2026, it’s hard to think anything but one of the party’s most talented MPs became simply fed up with the stench of defeat that has utterly engulfed the party.

“It says a lot about the state of the Victorian Liberal Party that Matt has decided to hang up the boots after only a few years,” one veteran politico said.

Indeed, having served less than four years in parliament, many believe Bach’s departure should serve as a wake up call to the party.

What should have been a new dawn of the party in the wake of the Warrandyte by-election win has become another disastrous false start.

Was it the legal threat that sent Bach packing?

Women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen threatened defamation action against Bach and his former Liberal Party leadership amigos this week.

Kellie Jay-Keen held a rally at Parliament House in Canberra in March. Picture: Martin Ollman

It was prompted by their commentary around her attendance at a Let Women Speak rally at parliament in March.

Keen says they made her sound like a “far-right extremist and activist” who “endorses Nazi and neo-Nazi views and sentiments”.

She claims the commentary made her the target of “extreme hate, abuse, harassment, and stalking,” and culminated in her being “physically attacked.”

But while not seeking to prejudge the case in any way, Baz wonders what all the fuss is about. Because Baz has happened upon a lengthy interview with Keen in which she says “I don’t care if you call me a Nazi.”

If that’s really true, she has a funny way of showing it!

Staff troubles in Allan’s office

Concerning reports out of Spring St this week that a female Minister has had a thorough talking to by Premier in waiting, Jacinta Allan, over the very very high staff turnover within her office.

Deputy Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan has had a very high staff turnover within her office. Picture: David Caird

What’s more, Baz hears tensions between the minister’s office and her department have peaked, with continued complaints from senior public bureaucrats about the way they have been treated.

Anyone who’s been around Spring St half a week knows a minister is only as good as the team beneath them.

Best keep relations good, if you want your portfolio to shine.

Greens MP goes chic

Baz has had lots to say about the decline in standards when it comes to parliamentary dress of late.

Greens MP Aiv Puglielli looked sharp as ever this week, but to Baz’s surprise, ditched the tie in favour of a turtleneck. C’est chic.

Alas, parliamentary standards care not for fashion. Baz understands Puglielli was indeed guilty of a parliamentary fashion crime by failing to wear a tie, a matter that was raised with the clerks and was promised to be addressed.

Who said it was easy being Green?

O’Dwyer returns

She’s back! The day after failing to retain the Labor stronghold electorate of Richmond, candidate Lauren O’Dwyer said she was “taking some respite to reconnect with my bed, family and puppies”.

Losing the seat to the Greens that Labor held for all but three years since 1889 (and those three years were held by former ALP member Frank Scully who was expelled from Labor and joined the DLP) must have taken a toll.

But Baz is pleased to announce O’Dwyer is well and truly back on her feet, having been announced as the new Chair of the board of community radio station PBS.

Lauren O’Dwyer is the new Chair of the board of community radio station PBS.

“Lauren is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, and has spent most of her adult life on Wurundjeri Country. Lauren brings a unique perspective to her work, with extensive experience in senior roles in the public service, tertiary institutions, politics and the arts,” the announcement screamed.

It was of course O’Dwyer’s claim to Aboriginal ancestry that sparked some furore during last year’s election campaign, given one of her own relatives said her family had never identified as Indigenous and didn’t have any Aboriginal ancestry.

The Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation also said the Labor candidate failed to follow cultural protocol and consult with elders. Rock on!

Overheard by Baz

“Seriously, the bloke has won a one horse race and he’s strutting around here like he’s Bart Cummings.”

– Daniel Andrews on John Pesutto following the Warrandyte by-election.

Guess who

Which senior minister was seen leaving a recent industry dinner early, just minutes before 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, AO, delivered his keynote speech?

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz?

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