Scott Morrison still headed for outer space

We spent most of the last three years laughing at Scott Morrison. Now the joke’s on us. With Donald Trump back in the White House, ScoMo’s close relationship with the president – and his succession of miscellaneous think-tank jobs with the MAGA set – make him vital to the kind of “bootlicker diplomacy” needed to deal with the current leader of the free world.

Scott Morrison: former prime minister and now chair of Space Centre Australia.Credit: Getty Images

Should Dutton knock off Albanese, our money is on Morrison to replace Kevin Rudd in Washington. After all, Dutts has promised to “reassess” the Kevin 07’s posting if he wins.

Anyway. Along with the New Year’s Eve appearance at Mar-a-Lago and guest spots on random kiwi podcasts, Morrison is busy juggling seven different board/advisory-type roles. That includes his job as chair of Space Centre Australia, the company that is totally going to build a spaceport on the Cape York Peninsula. One day.

As CBD reported last year, SCA chief executive James Palmer has a slightly bumpy past business record, with one of his previous companies going into liquidation owing creditors around $800,000. None of this deterred ScoMo from jumping into the cockpit with him, and a few months on, he hasn’t lost sight of the stars.

The former PM is now set to headline the Australian Space Summit at the ICC Sydney in May. If the Liberals prevail, he could be headed to DC soon after.

Sky’s the limit

Sky News’ antisemitism forum will roll out over four big hours on Thursday from 1pm and the line-up is B-I-G.

But one prominent name is missing.

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and NSW Premier Chris Minns are headlining the event hosted by Sky’s inexorable Sharri Markson.

Also there, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. But not Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. We asked the PM’s office why, but, given Tuesday was a busy old day with that rate cut, we were not expecting too nimble a response.

It seems the PM is heading to Adelaide for the Future SA Forum presented by the Adelaide Advertiser and can’t do both. Turns out that event is on Friday and Dutton is appearing there as well as at Sky News. Maybe Albo is heading over a day early to spread the news about the cut by the RBA.

Also appearing on Sky News will be antisemitism special envoy Jillian Segal, Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon, celebrity judge Michael Lee, singer Deborah Conway, Liberal MP Julian Leeser, academic Greg Craven, Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-chief Alex Ryvchin, and former prime minister John Howard. We are sure Albo can tune in, wherever he ends up.

Dog days

This week, CBD brought word that Steve Griffin, chief executive of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, has been offered the vacant top job at Greyhound Racing NSW.

Given the turbulence at that organisation since the release of a former chief vet’s report documenting widespread animal cruelty that led to the departure of former chief executive Rob Macaulay last year, some certainty at the top couldn’t come soon enough.

But Griffin’s job running the regulator currently leading an inquiry into GRNSW seemed to raise a few concerns among industry insiders, and Racing Minister David Harris’ office. Then things started to get a little murky. We were told the board was set to meet on Monday to confirm Griffin’s appointment. Then we heard the meeting did not go ahead.

Then GRNSW told us that no, there was never supposed to be a meeting this week. The body also said it was nearing the end of an “independent and thorough” search for Macaulay’s replacement, which involved input from former premier Morris Iemma.

“When GRNSW is in a position to make an announcement it will do so.”

Last we heard, Griffin has been offered the job, but both parties are figuring out the nitty-gritty. But all this vagary can’t stop us from wondering what’s taking them so damn long.

Lone luncher

SPOTTED: Former prime minister John Howard dining alone at the Australian Club at Macquarie Street, Sydney on Monday. Where better to get some peace and quiet away from the 21st century than an all-male club? Howard, of course, is a member, as are most retired Liberal Party grandees. Unless your name is Scott Morrison, brutally rejected last year.

Our spies spotted Howard tucking into a ham sandwich cut into four, sipping on a glass of tomato juice and flicking through a copy of what looked like The Spectator.

Despite the stuffy convention that solo diners are to be left undisturbed in the club, a few people even bowled Howard up for a chat.

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