‘I’m concerned she’s becoming a Liberal’: Mark McGowan’s daughter forms unlikely friendship with Scott Morrison

Is Scott Morrison sowing the seeds for the shock recruitment of the daughter of the nation’s most popular Labor leader?

Amelia McGowan, the daughter of WA's Labor Premier Mark McGowan, enjoys a regular chat with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Every time netball dad Scott Morrison calls Mark McGowan, the WA Labor Premier’s daughter, Amelia, answers the phone and apparently the pair have a chat.

“She’s 11. I’m now quite concerned she’s becoming a Liberal,” McGowan confessed to the Leadership Matters conference in Perth.

After being photographed with dead fish — a metaphoric gift for this country’s visually starved cartoonists — in Mooloolaba, we suspect the PM could use all the help he can get at Washington G7 in September.

Looking very fishy there, ScoMo. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Richard Walker

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Adviser in quarantine but ScoMo cleared to fly

Scott Morrison’s senior adviser, Nico Louw, can’t seem to catch a break.

After reaching an out-of-court settlement with Malcolm Turnbull’s publishers for sharing a pirated copy of the former PM’s memoir with 59 friends, Louw now finds himself stuck in self-quarantine. He’s been identified as a “close contact” of a COVID-19 case at the Apollo Restaurant cluster in Potts Points after dining in on July 25.

Nico Louw. Picture: File

Strewth understands he’s tested negative and hasn’t shown any symptoms, but he isn’t getting any special treatment and will remain isolated until August 9.

Louw works just a few metres from the PM in his Sydney office, yet Team Morrison said: “The acting Chief Medical Officer advises that because the staff member had no COVID-19 symptoms, the Prime Minister is clear to continue with his plans.”

In the past two days, Morrison has flown from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast and back to the Canberra Bubble™.

The good news is — if, hypothetically, the PM does need to quarantine for 14 days, he’s already cancelled parliament.

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Time-warp territory

South Australian reshuffle news! Liberal Premier Steven Marshall’s new 14-strong cabinet has as many Davids (and Stephen/Stevens) as women — three. Hardly even-stevens.

Even-Steven. Picture: Brenton Edwards

David Basham (Primary Industries), David Pisoni (Innovation and Skills) and David Speirs (Environment) v Rachel Sanderson (Child Protection), Michelle Lensink (Human Services) and Attorney-General/deputy Vickie Chapman. On the S-train it’s Stephen Wade (Health and Wellbeing) and Stephen Patterson (Trade). Plus a Dan (van Holst Pellekaan, Energy and Mining), a Corey (Wingard, Infrastructure and Transport), a John (Gardner, Education), a Vincent (Tarzia, Emergency Services) and a Rob (Lucas, Treasurer). We double-checked and, yes, it is 2020 (not 1920) everywhere outside Adelaide.

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Oh, snap!

Bob Katter has a new (porcelain) pet.

Bob and Cecil.

This week the maverick MP opened his new far north Queensland office in Mareeba, where the weather is a sunny 29C.

The furniture includes Katter’s snappy mascot, a crocodile he has named Cecil.

Strewth is told that Cecil is female and, unlike other reptiles, she’s a vegan that eats only greens and loves long walks on the beach!

“Cecil also likes to spend time at the local watering hole, The Cape Gateway Motel, when Bob’s not around.”

We wonder if her drink order is the same as Katter’s — Bundaberg rum and milk.

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Old-Age netboor

Spotted: this 2½-star review for Super Netball in the Sunday Age: “The Collingwood Magpies’ star player, Geva Mentor, is back on the court for the return of professional netball … Once just for schoolgirls and workplace bonding, this is now a full glamour sport for many.” Contact! Intimidation! Horsing! We take it the anonymous reviewer doesn’t know netball is now officially a semi-contact glamour sport where jewellery and long nails are banned. Goalkeeping royalty Liz Ellis was incredulous, tweeting: “JFC @theage what is this? Be better. Please.”

Look good on em for getting netball into The Age’s TV guide. But this (2.5 star?!) review is super weird. pic.twitter.com/YEB09hYjtO

— Eric George (@ericpaulgeorge) July 26, 2020

Melbourne Vixens captain Jo Weston, currently serving out a two-week quarantine in the Sunshine State ahead of the season starting, rebounded, “I mean, I do have great hair but still”. Ladies, we’re here if you need.

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Mindlessness

Here’s an arty-farty missive sent by the Australian National University to graduates this week: “Mindfulness can help us deal with change, especially with adjusting to the ‘new normal’ in the wake of COVID-19. To help our alumni community practise mindfulness, we’ve created a special series of ANU campus-themed colouring sheets.” There’s four scenes free to download from the ANU website — a family of ducks; a crimson rosella; University Ave, with added skywhale; and, for the real book nerds, the outside of Chifley Library. “So grab your pencils, pop on some relaxing music and relive your time studying at our beautiful Canberra campus.” Vincent says let it Gogh.

BYO crayons.

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