Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘Star Chamber’ returns
The “Star Chamber” will shortly return to Canberra. Remember that controversial panel from 2013?
It was created to undertake the necessary vetting of political staff. It went on to become a symbol of Peta Credlin’s extraordinarily powerful role in Tony Abbott’s short-lived government.
Credlin’s alleged use of it to exercise power became legendary. Some have argued that it accelerated Abbott’s speedy descent to becoming a former prime minister.
As with all things, present Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his political adviser Sally Cray will be sensitive about repeating the errors of the ancien regime.
Needless to say, the new chamber — officially called the “Government Staff Selection Committee” — will be keenly watched as it gathers over coming weeks, first to vet chiefs-of-staff, then advisers of descending seniority.
Along with Credlin — as with most things back then, its dominant force — the 2013 Star Chamber numbered her husband Brian Loughnane (then Liberal federal director), ministers Michael Ronaldson (who has since left parliament to join John Stanhope’s Australia Post board), Kevin Andrews (now an angry backbencher), and the then feared Liberal headkicker Tony Nutt (now the besieged federal director).
Ministers and their staff have been told the new chamber will be made up of ministers appointed by the PM and Deputy PM and representatives from their offices. As with much in the 45th parliament, Barnaby Joyce will be king of the Nats.
It’s expected that the panel’s members will include a number of attendees from last year’s Queanbeyan dinner at the late Peter Hendy’s house — the one that organised the successful Turnbull putsch.
Surviving diners include assistant minister to the PM James McGrath, minister assisting the cabinet secretary Scott Ryan, his senior minister Arthur Sinodinos and, perhaps, Julie Bishop’s COS Murray Hansen. (RIP little Wyatt Roy and host-with-the-most Hendy.)
Cray is expected to be right at the centre when she returns from leave. Turnbull’s bureaucrat-cum-chief of staff Drew Clarke will also be across it.
And what of Nutt, the only member from the last time around with any claim to a spot? Could be a useful signal on his much discussed future.
Tears and tap-outs
Yes, these are exciting times to be a government staffer! Tales abound — surely a touch overwrought — of teary Coalition foot soldiers packing boxes before promptly leaving Parliament House.
In offices throughout Malcolm Turnbull’s wing, a bureaucratic army drafted from chief mandarin Martin Parkinson’s public service is warming the seats of the recently deceased, the tapped out and the lucky few who have picked up corporate gigs.
We hear that there will be a major rebuild of Turnbull’s media operation, from which David Bold has vacated to head a new PMO unit in charge of managing the 45th parliament, as best it can — particularly the mighty Senate crossbench.
After a stint in the media operation, former Fairfax China correspondent John Garnaut seems destined for a foreign affairs-orientated role.
Gemma Daley — who, as recorded in a footnote in Australian staffing history, joined Abbott’s PMO on September 15, the day that he lost the prime ministership — seems to be one of the few who will remain from the previous operation, and in a senior role likely co-ordinating other ministerial press secs.
We have also heard that there will be more of a shake-up across ministerial chief-of-staff positions. Some who think they are safe might not be.
But that may just be the histrionics from an understandably nervous cohort.
Road to 50,000 copies
Speaking of staffers, some good news for adviser to Peter Costello turned star of The Australian,Niki Savva.
Her spectacularly popular account of Tony Abbott’s demise, The Road to Ruin, has now sold more than 45,000 copies in print and e-book sales.
We had heard that Sky News commentator Peta Credlin was to launch a special edition to mark the 50,000th copy sold. But that’s not true.
Also scuttled was chatter that Eric Abetz was writing a new foreword.
Costello in box seat
Speaking of Peter Costello, the Liberal grandee was the star guest at the annual “Black Tie Amateur Boxing Evening” at Melbourne’s Australian Club, held on Thursday evening.
The august club’s president John Hood — a Zimmer frame specialist, who is chairman of fellow Victorian aged-care facility Mecwacare — was joined by 190 guests at the private members’ club. A full-sized ring was erected under the grand Victorian-era dome in the Main Dining Room.
Two women were along, taking advantage of the club’s progressive decision to allow its exclusively male members to bring female guests.
Joining tuxedo-clad Costello — who awarded the winning cups to rapturous applause — was his son Sebastian, a television journalist at Nine, the network his father now chairs.
The prized Australian Club Cup went to boxer Max Grant.
McGuire’s fire and ice
They sure are a forgiving lot at Collingwood Football Club.
Just over a month after its president Eddie McGuire escaped with barely a slap on the wrists from the Magpies board after he said he wanted to drown journalist Caroline Wilson in an ice bath, 400-strong Collingwood faithful will gather tonight in their Melbourne nest — “the Glasshouse” — for a night titled: “Celebrating Women”.
The invitation promises: “A spectacular event ... to assist women and children affected by domestic violence.”
The night is being supported by the Pratt Foundation and the Luke Batty Foundation. And McGuire — who will be well tanned after his European summer break aboard Lindsay Fox’s love boat — has a speaking role. No joke.
If you can suspend your disbelief further, Rosie Battyis also scheduled to speak.
For those still scratching heads, invites for the gala event were sent out several weeks before McGuire’s most recent gaffe. Wonder what he has in store for tonight?
Elegantly Waislitz
Eyes will also be on fellow headline guest, Pratt family heiress Heloise Waislitz.
Her new partner, former Noiseworks frontman Jon Stevens will perform at tonight’s function at “the Glasshouse”, along with Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes and Kate Ceberano.
The two have never publicly acknowledged their relationship. Guests will be closely watching for under-the-table “footsie” confirmation.
And what of her now ex-husband billionaire Thorney investor Alex Waislitz, who is also Collingwood’s vice-president?
While he returned to Melbourne earlier in the week from the US, he’s not expected to be a starter tonight.
Thorburn’s hammer
Yesterday saw yet more change in the corporate affairs ranks of NAB, now run by chief executive Andrew Thorburn, who occasionally moonlights as a cadet journalist at the Swan Hill paper TheGuardian (for real). The person who sat at its peak, group executive of governance and reputation Michaela Healey, announced her retirement yesterday. Her departure follows that of Paula Benson, who was briefly in charge of corporate affairs (and who is married to Labor senator Stephen Conroy).
Benson’s departure was soon followed by former media head Meaghan Telford (now reunited with Craig Drummond at hisMedibank Private), who was recruited back when George Wright (now Labor’s national secretary) was in charge of public affairs.
What does all this mean for the bank’s head of government relations Dallas McInerney? All will soon be revealed.
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