‘Danistan’ swipe reveals all about Premier and Pell

Daniel Andrews’ Catholic faith wasn’t enough to withstand a barrage of criticism from the late Cardinal for turning Victoria into a “bossy nanny state”.

There’s no love lost between Daniel Andrews and the late Cardinal George Pell. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Cardinal George Pell won over a raft of high-profile politicians in his lifetime, former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott among them.

But Catholic Daniel Andrews was not one of them. When news of the Cardinal’s unexpected death broke last week, the Premier stayed uncharacteristically silent.

When he did finally comment on the news 24 hours later, he didn’t waste time paying the Victorian cardinal any respect.

And he certainly wouldn’t be drawn on his opinion of Pell. It seems there was no love lost between the pair.

Pell spent his final months actively campaigning against Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty Images

Baz has learnt Pell spent some of his final months actively campaigning against the Premier, telling friends he needed to be booted, and dubbing his home state “Danistan”.

And his criticism of Andrews wasn’t just confined to private chats.

In August, Pell compared the Andrews government to Queensland’s corrupt Joh Bjelke-Petersen administration of the 1980s.

“I don’t think Australian life is rotten at the core, but times are changing, and not always for the better,” he said.

“The inevitable royal commission of the future into Victoria could find a situation parallel to that of Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s Queensland in the 1970s-80s.

“Too many Australians were content with the over-reaction of bossy nanny states during the Covid crisis, when the churches were closed before the casino.”

Baz reckons Pell’s beef with Andrews started well before Covid.

Under his watch same-sex adoption has been legalised, laws were passed to allow a person to change their sex on their birth certificate, and Victoria became the first state to legalise euthanasia.

Special Religious Education has been dropped from schools and introduced laws mandating priests break the seal of confession to report child abuse.

But Dan worked out a long time ago that divisive religious views are just that, even among the faithful.

Which means those espoused by religious leaders are sometimes in stark contrast to the views from the pews. And he’s never had a problem tackling the church head on.

Tosh celebrates their milestone

Colac Otway Shire Council chief executive Anne Howard with newly sworn-in councillor Tosh Finnigan.

Red Shirts whistleblower Tosh Finnigan has for years been begging people to use the right pronoun. Now, they have another.

Finnigan – the first trans-identifying elected representative in the state – became the Colac Otway Shire Council’s newest councillor this week following a countback to replace former mayor Joe McCracken, the Liberals’ new Western Victoria upper house MP.

“I’m really keen to hit the ground running, and not only represent the community, but get into learning the role of councillor,” Cr Finnigan said.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges that are going to be presented, and I’m not going to shy away from making the hard decisions, but I’m always going to be accountable for my actions and my vote.

“I will seek to represent everyone in the shire equally and as best I can and deal with each issue that comes before me fairly and equitably.”

Good luck, cobber.

Title change

David Southwick has received a title bump. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Baz was left scratching his head earlier this week when he noted that deputy Liberal leader David Southwick had been promoted to Deputy Leader of the Opposition, a title that had been held by Nationals Leader Peter Walsh. Insiders initially told Baz they thought the change was a mistake, but it turns out that the title is correct. At the 2018 election, the Nationals lost their party status which meant a pay downgrade for leaders within the Coalition partner.

This prompted the two parties to share their senior roles around to ensure fewer people were worse off. But in 2022, the Nationals clawed back three seats and their party status, along with the benefits attached, was restored.

Walsh’s new title is Deputy leader of the Coalition.

The Olympic Games of business

Baz was thrilled to see Melbourne score the co-organising committee rights to one of the world’s biggest business events, the 14th World Chambers Congress in September 2025.

Now, it might still be a while away, but it will bring together more than a thousand of the world’s leading business chamber leaders, trade delegations and local business leaders to discuss solutions for global issues impacting business, create new business opportunities and exchange and develop community best practice. It’s basically the Olympic Games of business, and it’s good to see Melbourne keeps winning rights to stage major events.

There was a while there it looked like everyone was going to snub lockdown city, but the events keep rolling in.

And why shouldn’t they? It might have its problems, but it’s still the best city in the world.

Hamstrung

An MP sustained a nasty hamstring injury while in the surf during a holiday on the Mornington Peninsula. Picture: Dylan Coker

Down on the Mornington Peninsula over the holiday break, Baz spotted more than a handful of our MPs soaking up the sunshine.

From Mt Martha to Portsea they camped on beaches and perched at bars.

But which one of them tore a hamstring while in the surf?

Baz is told it was a nasty injury that left said MP out of action for much of their break.

So as not to cause any further damage, namely to an ego, Baz has decided to keep this one a secret.

For now.

Several MPs were spotted knocking back beers during the parliament’s opening session.

Guess who?

Which MPs were spotted knocking back a couple of beers midway through the parliament’s opening session?

Overheard

“It was a barbecue. It was a social event, and I will boldly predict that it won’t be the only barbecue I go to this summer.” Daniel Andrews responds to questions over a secret barbecue he attended with Anthony Albanese at Lindsay Fox’s Portsea mansion.