Backroom Baz: Louise Staley brands criticism of her $1400 footwear “pathetic”

Spring St fashionista Louise Staley has hit back at criticism that she wore expensive Louboutin sneakers while on the campaign trail.

Liberal MP Louise Staley put her best foot forward on the campaign trail this week, quite literally.

The Spring St fashionista was snapped wearing a pair of $1400 Christian Louboutin sneakers while out on the hustings.

Crueller minds than Baz commented that she was wearing the shoes while visiting one of the state’s poorest LGAs.

But Baz reckons the good people of said LGA would prefer not to be reminded of that.

Staley, who is fighting to retain the notionally Labor seat of Ripon, brushed off any criticism saying: “Honestly, I have worn these shoes every day for nearly 12 months. If that’s the best they can do, it’s pathetic!”

A snap of the Christian Louboutin sneakers out on the hustings.

Louise Staley wasn’t having a bar of the criticism of her footwear.

Spring Street’s got talent

With barely a peep coming out of the seat of Hastings, Baz reckons the lead candidates could hold a talent show to decide the winner.

Because it turns out Strictly Ballroom star Paul Mercurio, who’s running for Labor, isn’t the only star power fighting for the seat. Liberal Party candidate, Briony Hutton, has been uncovered as quite the singer.

Clips sent to Baz show that if she doesn’t make a career in politics, there’s probably a future on a stage somewhere. Seems despite claims to the contrary, Spring St does have talent.

Liberal Party candidate Briony Hutton has been uncovered as a singer.

A friendly Labor red shirts helps out a teal in distress.

A helping hand

The teal independents have copped a lot of flak for being in bed with Labor, and sometimes pictures speak a thousand words.

Brighton independent Felicity Federico appeared to enlist the help of a friendly Labor red shirt after being told her How To Vote cards were illegal because they didn’t number all the boxes. Someone had to fix it up, didn’t they?

Switching sides

Come next week, one Liberal will be working for a Premier.

Former Victorian Liberal Party media director Lee Anderson has snagged a gig as Director of Communications and Media with Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff.

Anderson left Melbourne abruptly in the wake of the party’s donor scandal involving former chief of staff Mitch Catlin, who resigned as a result.

Matthew Guy’s best mate Nick McGowan took over the role but a disagreement with Anderson resulted in the latter leaving the job within days, leaving a huge hole to fill on the eve of a critical election campaign.

Wrong time to be named Jenny

A rural Victorian nurse got a rude surprise when her personal medical details were released by the Medicare hackers.

After being alerted by email that the information had been published on the dark web the woman inquired with the IT department why the Russians would be particularly interested in her.

Turns out sharing the name Jenny Morrisson with the former prime minister’s wife can make you an unwitting target for cyber crims trying to make a point.

Right, said Fred

Former Liberal Party member Fred Ackerman is holding a grudge.

Ackerman fell on his sword after he was outed as encouraging a leak to the media over the controversial preselection of Bernie Finn’s replacement Moira Deeming.

Baz noted that Ackerman, who is running as an independent, is now preferencing Deeming last in the race for the upper house saying the party has lurched too far to the right. Fortuitously for Ackerman, he has drawn spot five on the ballot paper ahead of Deeming at number six.

Guess who?

Which company was paid to conduct an audit of all Liberal Party MPs and candidates social media accounts well before this week’s soft porn expose?