Coalition ministers, MPs and wannabes line up for Jones chat
There’s a stampede of Liberal politicians vying to share Alan Jones’ final moments of airtime before he retires from 2GB – who’s keen for some airtime? And which MP was spotted at a coronavirus testing clinic last week?
NSW
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Stand back if you don’t want to get mown down by the stampede of Liberal politicians vying to share Alan Jones’ final moments of airtime before retiring from 2GB.
Families, Communities and Disabilities Services Minister Gareth Ward was up last week, with one of his colleagues describing the chat as “a mutual appreciation society”.
A Liberal source said to expect backbenchers to also be hitting the phone, including minister-in-waiting Mark Coure.
Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, who has “a lot of affection” for Jones, is contemplating whether to call in.
The two have been at odds recently over Kean’s position on climate change.
“Few people have done more to shape Australian public opinion than Alan Jones,” Mr Kean said.
“I’ve got enormous respect of the man and everything he’s done.”
NEW CAPTAIN
With a high-profile by-election looming, it is no surprise the NSW Nationals have quickly filled their long-vacant state director position.
It’s three months since Ross Caddell left for the Port of Newcastle, but The Sauce can reveal Western Australian Nats director Joe Lundy will take over when borders reopen.
Lundy has been the WA director since April 2019 and before that was an adviser for Nationals leader Mia Davies.
The WA job is likely to go to former NSW State Director Nathan Quigley, who was in the chair when the party lost the seat of Orange to the Shooters.
The Nats are still weighing whether to stand a candidate in the federal by-election for Eden-Monaro.
If they stand back and leave it to the Liberals, expect the heat to be on federal Nats leader Michael McCormack, with some members blaming him for the withdrawal of NSW Nats leader John Barilaro, whom they believe could have won the seat.
Stay tuned.
COVID OPERATION
Liberal MP Eleni Petinos raised more than a few eyebrows earlier this month when she turned up to the Sutherland Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic.
She left without undergoing a test before turning up to state parliament the next day.
Turns out Ms Petinos attended the clinic not for a test but after multiple reports from constituents about the length of time it was taking to obtain a test result with the hospital advertising a wait of up to eight days, instead of the official 2-3 days trumpeted by the state government.
While at the clinic, Ms Petinos took a photograph of the clinic sign advertising the wait, to pass on to NSW Health.
Two eyewitnesses alleged there was some kind of commotion, a claim that surprises Ms Petinos, who said she announced who she was before asking — and being granted — permission to take the photograph.
It is understood Ms Petinos is perplexed how anyone from afar could have recognised her in her lockdown uniform of cap, tracksuit and mask.
BOYCOTT BACKFIRES
Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud may regret calling for a consumer boycott after Wesfarmers closed up to 167 Target outlets, many in the bush.
Littleproud encouraged would-be shoppers to vote with their wallets and “not go near them”. But his call has angered some of his Liberal colleagues in Canberra, given Wesfarmers has chipped in more than $100k to the federal branch of the Liberal Party in recent years.
Chairman Michael Chaney also doled out $2000 to attend a swanky fundraiser in late-2018 to show support for Scott Morrison.
Littleproud’s comments have particularly annoyed those in Western Australia, who’ve enjoyed Wesfarmers generosity in recent years with hefty donations to the state branch.
Even if the proposed restructure saves Wesfarmers some extra cash, The Sauce reckons the National Party will be unlikely to see any of the savings in the form of a donation.
Got some Sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au or annika.smethurst@news.com.au
Originally published as Coalition ministers, MPs and wannabes line up for Jones chat
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