Deadline: Peter Slipper’s surprise midnight visit to Melbourne church
Canberra reject Peter Slipper can now add “Bishop of Australia” to his CV, alongside failed politician. Andrew Rule and Mark Buttler with the latest crime buzz.
Police & Courts
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Melbourne’s top crime writers Andrew Rule and Mark Buttler with their weekly dose of scallywag scuttlebutt.
SLIPPING FROM BRAZILIAN TO GREEK
Time slips away and so does Peter Slipper, alias “Slippery Pete”, the former Parliamentary Speaker who left Canberra a decade ago under a cloud of interesting allegations, some about using taxpayer funds for taxi fares running into thousands of dollars.
Exactly what Slippery got up to is not so much secret as folklore among political groupies. His CV is now as chequered as Jacob’s coat of many colours — a Biblical reference that Slippery will get because as well as being a barrister and failed politician, he has dabbled in exotic religious denominations for years.
In his latest incarnation, the one-time High Anglican has been ordained as “Bishop of Australia” by the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church.
In that capacity, perhaps, he has made a surprise appearance at a Melbourne church.
Bishop Pete, now 71, attended a midnight mass at the St Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church in St Albans, which is split on issues including the future of parish priest Irinaos Koikas.
It is not clear whether he was there to give spiritual guidance or legal advice to Fr Koikas, who is facing moves to move him on.
Bishop Slippery declined to elaborate on his involvement when contacted by probing Herald Sun political scribe Kieran Rooney.
But Fr Koikas is clearly grateful, judging from a post on the church Facebook site, accompanying photos of Bishop Slippery’s midnight appearance.
“I would like to make special mention of my dear friend, the Hon. Peter Slipper, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia and Bishop of the Brazilian Apostolic church in Australia who came and attended our Resurrection service all the way from the Sunshine Coast,” Fr Koikas gushed.
“I thank him for his attendance and his personal friendship for some time now. As well as his duties as Bishop, he is also a much-respected barrister in Queensland and Hobart.”
Not everyone is so happy.
The church’s community president Georgina Papafotiou resigned in May. Ms Papafotiou, a former Brimbank Council Mayor, has declined to comment.
It is rising 10 years since Slippery was in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Back then, one of his parliamentary colleagues told the Herald Sun: “I don’t want to be the focus of a vendetta against him but the bloke is an absolute weirdo and a nut.”
After that, the fellow Queenslander really sank the slipper into Bishop Pete. Who is now, incidentally, also Brazil’s consul to Tasmania.
There is a joke there about the Bishop and the map of Tassie but we’re not touching it with a barge pole.
RECOLLECTION OF GATTO COLLECTION
Last week’s item about former Carlton champ Peter “Buzz” Bosustow’s financial ups and downs with troubled developer Darren Taggart isn’t the last word on the matter.
It is true that the prince of debt mitigation, Mick Gatto, was so touched by Bosustow’s plight that he sent emissaries to Perth several times, pro bono, to thrash out a compromise over Buzz’s failed investment in an $80m development.
Gatto Corp negotiator Anthony Swords gently points out that they had some success in resolving the matter, saying “Buzz” got back more than the big bag of fresh air he had before they went knocking on Taggart’s door.
One problem, Swords suggests delicately, is that a private settlement with a lawyer associated with the Taggart case involves a nondisclosure clause that prevents Bosustow from discussing any upside.
The way Team Gatto recollects it, they always collect.
Their view of old mate “Buzz” is that he should try to think positively about a glass half full, not half empty.
As for Taggart, the less said about him the better.
Especially the bit about the police finding $100 and a chocolate bar in his car before they charged him with trying to procure under-age girls for sex.
Taggart was found guilty of three charges and a judge said he was lucky to avoid jail.
Which is lucky, because jail has its share of debt collectors who are not so good on occupational health and safety.
INSEMINATION TROUBLE
Sean Buckley of UltraTune fame is back in the news with two court matters in Melbourne this week. Which is more than his horses can do.
Racehorses linked to Buckley and his companies cannot run in Victoria at present, while Victorian racing authorities investigate aspects of Ultra’s breeding program and procedures — specifically, suggestions of innovative use of artificial insemination, which is banned by the Australian Stud Book authorities and the rules of racing.
The sex life of his horses is not Sean Buckley’s only distraction.
Those close to the Buckley camp are concerned that a former Buckley consort has formed an amorous attachment with an ultra-famous former international sportsman.
Apparently, not everyone is happy about this turn of events.
Gold Coast gossip is that ultra-violent local bikies have threatened to bowl a few bouncers at lover boy, who has suddenly decided not to swing hands quite so vigorously with the lady concerned.
With Covid-19, any close contact is a risk. And old-fashioned insemination out of the question.
Heard something? Let us know deadline@news.com.au
LONG ARMS OF THE LAW
Criminal barrister Geoffrey Steward got a little starstruck in the Supreme Court the other day when a towering witness took the stand in an attempted murder trial.
Steward ended his cross examination of police officer Sgt Peter Street by asking if he was a former footballer.
“Did you play football for Geelong and Footscray?” the barrister asked.
Street: “I did. A very long time ago.”
Steward: “Congratulations. I am a Geelong supporter. I won’t ask for an autograph.”
At 211cm tall, Street is the equal tallest player in the history of the VFL and AFL, alongside Aaron Sandilands, Mason Cox and Ned Reeves.
This explains his parting comment at court. “I have to dip at all the doors.”
CAR THIEVES RUN RED HOT
Luxury car theft is a staple of organised crime, as demonstrated when the vehicle crime squad staged a nice pinch recently.
A series of raids led to arrests for the theft of high-end vehicles worth $1.1 million, along with seizure of 1kg of heroin, about 7.5kg of cannabis and assorted MDMA, cash and casino chips.
Two men face trafficking charges.
One was busted after detectives tracked a stolen 2014 Range Rover Evoque to Briggs St, Mount Waverley.
Nearby was a 2021 BMW X7, valued at about $150,000, fitted with false number plates.
A 36-year-old Carlton man who got into the Range Rover sped off when police tried to intercept him. He was later arrested on Kingsway, Glen Waverley.
Cash and substances believed to be methamphetamine and heroin were allegedly found in the Range Rover. Police say a search of the Briggs St house uncovered heroin, cannabis, MDMA, cash and casino chips.
Other members of the syndicate are charged with stealing cars worth a total $850,000.
KATE MOSS OF NEW YORK, LONDON … BALLARAT
Police at the ’Rat want to talk to the model’s local namesake.
Maybe she has lost a Prada handbag or Tiffany diamond necklace at the Ballarat greyhounds. Or found someone else’s.
THE DIRT FILE
Among drugs seized in police raids on outlaw bikie gangs at Cobram and nearby towns is Viagra.
It is not known why virile Mongols would want such a thing but apparently the little blue pills are a firm favourite among hardened criminals.
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