Greens divide for Bubble’s rare air

Only half the federal Greens team made it inside the Canberra Bubble for the shortened stimulus sitting week.

Greens divide for Bubble’s rare air

Only half the federal Greens team made it inside the Canberra Bubble for the shortened stimulus sitting week (or possibly, day): Melburnian leader Adam Bandt, WA-based whip Rachel Siewart (on a special taxpayer-funded flight for a dozen MPs, cost unknown), Tassie deputy Nick McKim (who plans to self-isolate upon his return home), South Australian Sarah Hanson-Young and New South Welshwoman Mehreen Faruqi. It seems former leader Richard Di Natale didn’t make the cut. Neither did deputy (and mum of two) Larissa Waters. Waters was criticised by Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson on Saturday for sharing (then deleting) a meme that claimed coronavirus was “Scomo’s revenge”. The meme, which Waters credited to the “LibLOL” Facebook page, said: “We didn’t shake his hand. Now nobody can shake hands. We didn’t like him having an overseas holiday. Now nobody can have an overseas holiday. We called him an arsehole. Now nobody can wipe their arseholes.” The former Canadian said the sentiment was “totally on point”. Paterson was shocked. “I honestly thought this was fake when I first saw it,” he said, calling it “incredibly poor taste”. “Seven Australians have already died and sadly we know many more are likely to,” he said. Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews also slammed the minor party last week for using the pandemic as a “fundraising tool”. The Greens sent out an email asking people to “join us by chipping in $3 a week” during these “unusual times”. “Are you able to help out, so when the crisis hits, our government doesn’t leave families behind?” it said.

Shades of grey in Love Minister’s survival

Good news for fans of Father of the House Kevin Andrews. The political future of the veteran Victorian — currently 64 and serving his 11th term — was meant to be decided on Sunday. But the preselection challenge for his seat of Menzies, by barrister Keith Wolahan, was postponed due to COVID-19. We hear another date is in the works. Strewth’s spies suggest that of the 350 Liberal preselectors due to vote on Andrews’s fate, 122 are aged over 70. A coronavirus outbreak is the last thing the grey-hair-heavy Liberal membership needs. Insiders suspect the vote will be tight. Hence why the conservative once dubbed the “Minister for Love” — when as Tony Abbott’ssocial services minister he handed out taxpayer-funded $200 vouchers for couples counselling that could be used for sex therapy — sent each preselector a brochure with praise from Scott Morrison; former PMs John Howard and Abbott; colleagues Josh Frydenberg, Mathias Cormann and Peter Dutton; party figures Peta Credlin, Helen Kroger and Nick Minchin and columnist Andrew Bolt. “It is critical for the continuing success of my government that we retain members of Kevin’s experience, expertise and enthusiasm in the parliament,” was one of Morrison’s glowing quotes. Andrews was the only pollie to face a challenge when (eight months after Morrison’s miracle last May) state president Robert Clark opened preselections for sitting federal MPs, with an aim to finalise candidates by the end of the year, a move Frydenberg’s people circulated a petition to stop. Luckily, the party still has two years until the next poll. 

Political car crash

Will the local council and two state by-elections slated for next

Saturday in Queensland go ahead? Unlikely. Which is a shame for LNP candidate Laura Gerber, who is in pole position to pick up Currumbin. Solicitor Gerber’s past life has tongues wagging. In 2003 she appeared on an episode of Australia’s Worst Driver. The then P-plater crashed into her mother’s car, caused a three-car pile-up at traffic lights, reversed into the retaining wall at her house and ran down roadside markers. “I fully disclosed my traffic history (to the LNP),” she told the Courier Mail. Sportsbet has Gerber at $1.80, with Labor’s Kaylee Campradt at $1.95.

Just not cricket

No holidays, no hugs, no hanging out at Bondi. Morrison’s new hardline approach (a week after mixed messages on handshakes) has bowled over Shane Warne. “Very impressed with (ScoMo) in these tough and unsettling times!” the cricket legend tweeted. “Please can everyone listen to the advice of the Govt, stay healthy and safe!” But the big question — is travelling for sport “essential” or “non-essential”? After the AFL cancelled its season, we were surprised when this landed in our inbox: “Tokyo government is accepting accreditation card application to use the Tokyo Media Centre, which will be opened during the Tokyo 2020 Games in order to support domestic and international media.” That’s optimistic!

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