Backroom Baz: McDonald’s in Northcote? That’s not cool for Kat

Northcote MP Kat Theophanous is hot under the collar over plans for McDonald’s to open a 24-hour restaurant in Northcote, and she’s taking her fight to the council.

Northcote Labor MP Kat Theophanous is not a fan of Maccas.

News that McDonald’s plans to open a 24-hour restaurant in High St, Northcote has generated a level of anger in the community as locals raise concerns about the impact on the area’s character and businesses.

Now it’s facing opposition in the corridors of power, in the form of Northcote MP Kat Theophanous.

“Personally, I don t think it’s the right fit in the heart of our unique strip,” she said this week.

“High St, Northcote isn’t just a place, it’s a community with a unique, eclectic identity built over decades of love, courage and determination.

“I’ve spoken so many times about our magical mix, and why we’re crowned the coolest street in the world. It’s the cafes that know your order, the indie shops full of character, the live music venues giving local artists their first stage. We are proudly environmentally and socially conscious. We bring people together to create and share.

“At its core, it’s because we love Northcote. A McDonald’s will undoubtedly change the feel of the street we all love, and cut across the work so many have done to cultivate a truly unique offering here.”

She promised to convey her sentiments directly to Darebin City Council.

Liberal MP Nick McGowan. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Nick’s not flagging

Liberal MP Nick McGowan continues to rail against the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s flag policy.

Invitations have gone out for the annual flag distribution, under which MPs are eligible to receive Victorian and Aboriginal flags, but have no ability to order Aussie flags, which irks McGowan.

They can receive up to three Victorian and three Aboriginal flags, four Aboriginal flags only or up to six Victorian flags. Australian flags are available but only through a federal program, which McGowan says is not good enough.

“It’s not April 1st, is it?” he told Baz. “Is it the Premier’s intention to make the Australian flag an irrelevance? How long before the Premier and her protocol police take down the Australian and Torres Strait Islander flags from the front of state government buildings?”

Baz reckons McGowan might be on a loser. But, like his long campaign for a toilet at Ringwood East station, it’s one he won’t give up easily.

Love’s labour

A week is a long time in politics, and journalism too, it seems. Baz reported last week the shock resignation of Simon Love from Sky News.

Now, Baz can report Love has already found a new home, with the national broadcaster. Love will start this week with the ABC’s 730 in a temporary role.

Questions were raised this week over whether Jaclyn Symes should take up the role of acting premier. Picture: Getty Images

Symes has upper hand

The government surprised more than a few when it announced this week treasurer Jaclyn Symes would take up the role of acting premier with both Jacinta Allan and her deputy, Ben Carroll, on leave.

It meant for just the second time in history, Victoria had an upper house premier. It prompted questions about whether Symes was actually eligible for the job, given she sits in the upper house.

Convention requires the premier sit in the lower house of parliament, the Legislative Assembly, where the government is formed. But inquiries to the Premier’s office on Monday revealed that as long as parliament isn’t sitting, there is no bar to Symes carrying on the role.

Charles Sladen, in 1868, was the last and until now only premier to serve from the upper house. As for Symes, you only have to go back four years to a time she was merely a humble minister for resources.

But a slew of high-profile resignations ahead of the 2022 election saw the beginning of a fast rise through the ranks. First as Emergency Services Minister, then Attorney-General and now Treasurer. It seems nothing can stop her, even an aversion to “economic terms”.

New Police Commissioner Mike Bush is yet to address Victorians. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Undercover top cop soon on the nose

A few weeks back Baz noted Victoria’s top cop Mike Bush’s aversion to public appearances. Weeks into the job, and despite a number of high-profile crimes, Bush is yet to make an appearance and address Victorians.

He continued his low-profile this week, turning up at one of the regular CBD pro-Palestine protests incognito to see for himself how his officers were responding.

But, if the Kiwi planned to quietly blend in, his cover was soon blown. A police sergeant who shares Bush’s Maori heritage recognised his new boss and the pair exchanged the traditional hongi greeting involving the rubbing of noses. There was momentary alarm from onlookers who thought they were about to witness a headbutt.

Evan Mulholland with his new baby girl.

Baby joy deputy Liberal leader

There’s another member eligible to join the parliament’s first baby club.

Deputy leader of the Liberal Party in the upper house, Evan Mulholland, and wife Brigid welcomed their third child the week with the birth of Francesca Giovanna, who will go by the nickname Frankie.

Frankie joins siblings Teddy and Saoirse in the growing Mulholland clan and kindly came in the mid-year break, giving dad some much needed time away from parliament to focus on the new addition.

She is the latest in a long line of parliamentary babies to be born in the past 12 months, meaning she’ll have no shortage of mates across the political aisle if and when she makes use of the parliament’s first dedicated children’s room.

Baz sends his sincere congrats.

Guess Who?

Which senior MP was this week firing off press releases from the comfort of a sunny holiday in northern Australia?

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz?

X: @BackroomBaz

Originally published as Backroom Baz: McDonald’s in Northcote? That’s not cool for Kat