MP Tim Smith was quick to call for the heads of other politicians, now it’s his turn

Drink-driving Liberal MP Tim Smith was quick to call for the heads of other politicians, so he shouldn’t be surprised some are now gleeful at his demise.

Tim Smith was previously quick to call for others to resign. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The schadenfreude soundtrack was running on repeat around Spring St this week.

As they say, the bigger you are the harder you fall. Tim Smith played big, and has fallen hard, announcing on Saturday night he would not contest the next state election after crashing into a Hawthorn home while drink driving.

And people from Parliament House to Town Hall, and everywhere in between, are finding it hard to suppress their glee.

Smith begged for a second chance, despite making a career of calling for others to be sacked or resign.

In the last 12 months alone there’s been more than 40 calls for people to resign. From the government alone, Smith called for the heads of Dan Andrews, Jill Hennessy, Jacinta Allan, Tim Pallas, Lisa Neville, Shaun Leane (for having long hair), Martin Pakula and James Merlino. Even if they all went, and weren’t replaced, the government would keep its whopping majority.

He wanted a bunch axed from the public service too, including former deputy chief health officer Annaliese Van Diemen (over a tweet!) and Captain Covid Jeroen Weimar. Even Lord Mayor Sally Capp wasn’t up to the job, according to Smith, because she applauded the government’s state budget.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, could be one person trying to hiding her glee at Tim Smith’s political demise. Picture: Quinn Rooney

SMITH WANTED HIS 15 MINUTES OF FAME, AND GOT IT

It seems just weeks’ ago Smith was bemoaning the fact he couldn’t get a press conference guernsey. After seeing his marathon 70 minute “train wreck” press conference last week, Baz is starting to understand why.

Before leading the charge to topple former leader Michael O’Brien in September, one of Smith’s major gripes was that he wasn’t getting a run in front of the cameras. Indeed it was a gripe of many MPs, with claims O’Brien wouldn’t let them conduct press conferences. Perhaps there was method in MOB’s madness for keeping Smith at bay. As one colleague said this week, “when you stand in front of the cameras for 70 minutes and lie, it’s not going to end well”.

Spring St press gallery veteran-turned government spin doctor Brendan Donohue is said to have imparted some simple advice to MPs: “Tell ‘em everything, then they won’t go looking”.

Michael O'Brien may have had good reason for keeping Tim Smith from in front of the TV cameras. Picture: David Crosling

WHERE TO NEXT?

Tim Smith’s political career is now over, but Baz got to wondering what might come next for the larger than life MP. Some have suggested he could return to his old consulting firm PwC. Former PwC Luke Sayers gave Smith a glowing reference ahead of his initial preselection for parliament. But well placed spies tell us Smith’s loss wasn’t felt particularly hard by the organisation. He had a brief stint in Canberra too, working for then federal opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull as an assistance adviser, whatever that means. But he’s unlikely to get a call up from the old boss, with Canberra sources telling Baz that Turnbull claims to have never met him! Maybe he could return to work for his former boss, the MP for Malvern Michael O’Brien. Hmm, maybe not. Baz’s spies say suggestions have been made to Mr Smith to set sail for the old mother country. He spent much time there as a boy, and has always had a soft spot for old Blighty. And Her Majesty.

Could Tim Smith return to his old job, working for former opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull in some capacity? We don’t think so.

HE’S NOT THE ONLY BLOODY IDIOT

Of course Smith isn’t the only drink-drive bloody idiot state MP in recent times. Sadly, there have been far too many. Former Liberal upper house MP Simon Ramsay was taken into custody in 2018 after he crossed onto the wrong side of the road in Barwon Heads later recording a blood alcohol reading of 0.191. He resigned from his opposition parliamentary secretary role and didn’t recontest his seat at the election months later.

Simon Ramsay at court at Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Liberal Andrew Olexander lost his licence and was fined $500 after crashing his government car into four parked vehicles on Beach St, Port Melbourne in 2004. He resigned from the shadow cabinet. Labor MP Carolyn Hirsch made the mistake of having a tipple before leaving Parliament House in 2004. She made it to Glen Iris before being pulled over and blowing .07 losing her licence for six months and copping a $300 fine. When will they learn?

GUESS WHO?

Which MP was left so enraged by Tim Smith’s car crash they have been unable to bring themselves to speak with him since?

WHO SAID IT?

“I’m not unwell. I’m an idiot” - embattled Liberal backbencher Tim Smith reveals his GP’s diagnosis after his drunken car-crash.