Backroom Baz: Will Fowles not going gently into Labor’s night

Will Fowles is finding it tough to let go of his old boss — more than a month after Daniel Andrews ordered him to resign, the Premier still features prominently across his social media.

Daniel Andrews still features prominently on Will Fowles Facebook page.

He might have been forced to resign from the Labor parliamentary team, but Ringwood MP Will Fowles isn’t going down without a fight.

More than a month since he was ordered to resign by Premier Daniel Andrews after being accused of sexual assault, Fowles remains both a member of parliament and a member of the ALP.

And according to his website, and Facebook page, you’d be forgiven for thinking he still remains a very active part of the government.

Baz wonders what the Premier would say about his image being used prominently on Fowles’ social media, or the Labor logo being splashed across his website.

While sex crimes detectives from Victoria Police continue to investigate the allegations, it would be remiss of Baz not to reiterate Fowles’ persistent and vehement denials of any wrongdoing.

Watch this space.

Fowles and Daniel Andrews in a picture on the Ringwood MP’s Facebook page.

Bean counters bring the laughs

The Board of Treasurers – the body set up by Tim Pallas and former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet when he was treasurer – met in Brisbane this week.

It consists of the treasurers of the six states and two territories who meet to collaborate on issues of common interest.

But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s merely a snoozefest of bean-counters – not with Victoria’s number one money man in town.

Pallas opened his comments to the meeting by calling WA’s GST sweetheart deal engineered by Scott Morrison when he was federal treasurer the second worst public policy in Australia’s history.

Chair Cameron Dick asked the obvious question: “What’s number one, Tim?” Answer: “Canberra!” Hilarity ensued.

Just on the WA GST deal, Victoria would be $1.4bn worse off this financial year without the no-worse-off guarantee, which is legislated to expire in 2026-27.

And the total forecast shortfall in payments to Victoria over the five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27 is $7bn. Ouch.

You’ve got to give it to Pallas: keeping a sense of humour when Victoria is staring down eye-watering levels of record debt is quite the feat.

But hey, if you don’t laugh you’ll cry, as Baz’s mum used to say.

Tim Pallas with Daniel Andrews. Picture: Tony Gough

You thought that was bad …

Speaking of finances, it seems like only yesterday when Pallas handed down his ninth, and worst, budget in May. Well, planning is now underway for next year’s budget with departments this week told to start preparing submissions.

Most inside government are bracing for a worse budget than this year’s, save for an economic miracle to land before next May.

In the absence of that, the early advice is strap in, it’s going to be a wild ride.

Putting pen to paper in digital age

MPs be warned, your inboxes may soon be bombarded. That’s because the Libertarian Party ran a letter-writing workshop this week to teach aggrieved voters how to make their voices heard.

The session focused on the ACMA Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, but you’d think the lessons learnt around active communication, activism and engaging MPs could be applied to any number of campaigns. The session promised to teach attendees “how to write effectively and powerfully even to MPs whose values you don’t share … and how to express your opinion in your own unique voice so as to make them take notice.”

Baz knows a few MPs who might have learnt a trick or two.

Echuca squid alert

Parliament is hitting the road again, with the next regional sitting of the Legislative Council confirmed to head to Echuca next year.

Baz wonders if it will be a less intrusive visit than the 2021 visit to Bright.

Keen readers may well remember the drama that ensued at the Bright Brewery over a squid and wine brouhaha.

The night before the regional parliament sat, politicians from across the aisle attended a function at a nearby winery before making their way to the Bright Brewery. Then shadow treasurer David Davis became involved in an altercation with staff after his desired squid meal was not available.

“He was a bit tired and emotional,” one MP who was at the brewery said.

Mr Davis later apologised unreservedly.

“No one can claim their behaviour is perfect,” he said.

“No-one from the establishment has raised any issues with me subsequent to the evening. It is troubling that it now appears I am the target of a political smear campaign.”

Baz hopes that when Parliament hits the road next year, it will be a less intrusive visit than the trip to Bright Brewery in 2021. Picture: Tony Gough

Debatable strategy

Opposition Leader John Pesutto proposed a series of public debates with Daniel Andrews this week, in a move privately mocked by some of his colleagues and publicly ridiculed by the Premier himself.

Baz has always considered parliament the perfect place for the airing of political debate. That said, maybe it’s a way to see the leaders engage in robust discussion on a range of federal issues. The Voice? AUKUS? It’s become pretty clear recently that discussion of anything not purely Victorian risks serious sanction.

Take the curious case of Labor MP Kat Theophanous, who suffered a factional suspension after using parliament to deliver an impassioned speech in support of Cyrpus. Given parliament doesn’t allow a proper equal debate, maybe Pesutto’s idea has legs.

Guess who?

Which MP is using the parliamentary break to head on a cycling Tour de France?

Overheard

“After careful consideration, I have decided to vote no in the upcoming referendum on the Voice.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto finally nails his colours to the mast of the Voice referendum.