Backroom Baz: Libs’ TikTok attacking Daniel Andrews must have Coolio rolling in his grave
We’re calling it early but this TikTok is the worst video of this year’s state election – and the writs haven’t even been issued yet.
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No. No, no, no, no, no. That’s all Baz could say when he saw the latest TikTok efforts of the Liberal Party pop up this week.
To describe just how bad it is would be to push Baz’s writing ability to the very limit.
On the same day we learned Gangsta’s Paradise rapper Coolio had died, the TikTok “rap” attacking Daniel Andrews went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Baz has already called it: the worst video of the 2022 election. And to think the writs haven’t even been issued yet!
Others, like Painters and Dockers frontman (and ex-Sunday Herald Sun scribe) Paulie Stewart were less complimentary, calling it a crime against music.
The most concerning thing is someone at Liberal HQ obviously thought the video (right) was a stroke of genius because, Baz is told, a significant amount of money was spent on online advertising to push it out to the masses. Ouch. Coolio must be rolling in his grave.
Maybe it’s best to stick to old, tried and true videos. Like the one from 2014 of Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith giving a Ted Talk that has resurfaced and is being promoted once again ahead of the election.
When right meets left
The last time Baz was clued into romance gossip was the love triangle between Marc Antony, Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
But every now and then the world of Labor’s internal factional politics collide with plot lines similar to movies like When Harry Met Sally.
Or better yet, You’ve got (Campaign) Mail.
The talk around town is of a budding romance between long time operative Dimity Paul and ALP national secretary Paul Erickson.
It is an interesting meeting of minds, with Paul traditionally linked to the right and Erickson a longtime member of the left.
The rumour mill has not only gone into overdrive because of Labor’s love of internal gossip but because of the fascinating factional implications.
Paul was once linked to the Shoppies union and, although she has now drifted from that faction, it is understood she still considers herself from the right wing of the party.
Have things changed or is the old saying that opposites attract true even in the cutthroat world of ALP powerbroking?
It comes at an interesting time for Victorian Labor, with unions openly furious about being cut out of the party’s policy platform process for the state election.
A return of the party’s state conference, and its internal ballots, early next year is expected to be spicy and could test even the firmest of relationships.
Matthew’s an appy Guy
When the Coalition announced it would introduce a new fuel app to help Victorians save at the petrol pump this week Baz went digging through the archives.
And look what he found. A young Matthew Guy at his first job, pumping gas.
Guy has promised to invest $1m over four years to develop the fuel app, which would be based on the FuelCheck app being used in NSW.
Baz wonders though, will it work as well as the former federal government’s Covid app?
He also wonders what Guy ever did to upset the RACV, who were quick to point out the new app wasn’t needed – they’ve got their own!
Bull’s bad trot
Spare a thought for the poor old Shadow Minister for Racing, Nationals MP Tim Bull.
Bully has only just got back on his feet after some serious surgery, and was meant to attend a racing event last Saturday.
He was going to drive himself, but was unable to find his car where he left it parked in the CBD.
Poor bugger had it stolen, and lost all his cards to boot. Worse still, someone has since accessed them and used them. Needless to say he didn’t make the races. Cue police.
Donation sweetener
There’s been lots of talk of just how hard fundraising has become of late.
The state’s corruption watchdog, IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich, even fired a pre-emptive warning shot this week putting political parties on notice.
“Donations and lobbying can be used to gain privileged access to decision-makers within a party by elevating a donor’s or lobbyist’s profile,” he warned.
New donation laws aimed at increasing transparency will be tested for the first time at this year’s election.
But amid myriad novel ways to raise a quid, Baz reckons Lily’s Italian Bake Off is a stand out.
A winning raffle ticket scores you a hamper of homemade treats baked by Lily herself. With roots in Calabria, Italy, Baz is minded to buy some tickets himself.
Overheard by Baz
“We don’t have policies, we are in opposition, we’re not in government.”
Guess who?
Which Labor MP has been put in the freezer over a recent, very public, media gaffe?
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