John Barilaro’s wild horses

Our spies have spotted a potential dark horse candidate to take over the Nationals from Michael McCormack — NSW deputy premier John Barilaro.

Is Barra heading for the ‘burra?

As the hoofs of a rumoured challenge against federal Nationals leader Michael McCormack gathered speed in the Canberra Bubble™, Strewth’s spies spotted a potential dark horse candidate — NSW deputy premier John Barilaro.

After falling quiet following Trevor Hicks’s embarrassing third place finish in the July by-election — won by Labor’s Kristy McBain — the official “Nationals for Eden-Monaro” Facebook page has roared back to life as a propaganda platform, exclusively sharing puff pieces about the NSW Nationals leader. It comes with a party authorisation and 1001 dedicated followers.

Could Barilaro be making a play (a la Campbell Newman in Queensland, 2012) to lead the junior coalition partner from outside parliament?

The lines delivered from NSW Nationals HQ read: “This was an official campaign page during the Eden-Monaro by-election.

“The reason pages like this exist outside elections is to assist us to continue to connect with these communities outside elections.

“The NSW Nationals are committed to listening to all regional communities, not just those with a Nationals MP.”

OK!

Barilaro didn’t return our calls; suspiciously silent (or a little horse)?

Senior party sources said he’s not the candidate “… at this point in time”.

This may explain the internal agitation in the Bere/Barra government over the Victorian border closure and Kosciuszko brumbies culls.

You know what they say when someone does a long sit down reflection on their shortcomings (see Bill Shorten, Strewth Monday).

“Maybe Barra and (Andrew) Constance will both run and torpedo each other again!” one senior Nat theorised.

Maybe.

Masked up MickMack.

Mask of least resistance

Since becoming Nats deputy-in-waiting at the start of the year, David Littleproud has continually threatened that “agriculture is sexy again, just add water”.

The country community collectively held their breath, dreading a George Christensen homage — shirt off, singlet, tats and whip.

Luckily, Littleproud moved in the opposite sartorial direction and was spotted sporting a COVID covering with a map of his Queensland seat on Monday.

“Had to bring back a little bit of Maranoa with me to Canberra,” he proudly said of the facial fashion.

Reusable, of course, and a cartophiles’s dream!

Had to bring back a little bit of Maranoa with me to Canberra! #auspol #WearAMask #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/l6pmi3G1gL

— David Littleproud (@D_LittleproudMP) August 23, 2020

How ironic that the Agriculture Minister wore it as he fronted the press to call for an end to borders.

“I just say to the Queensland government, I congratulate you but you’ve still forgotten one very important aspect of this — your fellow Australians. This isn’t about your parochial borders that were put in place over 100 years ago, an arbitrary line that regional Australia have outgrown and evolved past.”

But back to the masked stringer.

We understand it was handmade by his biosecurity adviser (who wished to remain unnamed). A crafty staffer — literally, not in the political sense!

She printed her own material using the AEC’s seat divisions and has used it to make a number of unique items.

Strewth has been reliably informed she is Team Littleproud’s “employee of the month”. Well deserved!

Mask but not least

Resources Minister Keith Pitt was also on brand in a Nationals dark green mask — although a tad more Hannibal Lecter looking.

“I’ve been called a bank robber twice,” Pitt confessed.

It’s hard to identify someone walking at a COVIDSafe distance in the empty corridors of power when your glasses are fogging up.

We guess — don’t mask, don’t tell?

ScoMo and KeiPit.

Feeling blue

Overheard — newly indi senator Rex Patrick asked about his new teal tie palate. “I looked at Zali Steggall’s website and liked the colour.” A future voting bloc?

Warringah teal.

Kind of a big dill

What better way to honour Richard Di Natale’s five year legacy as federal Greens leader than with a commemorative tea towel!

To coincide with his virtual valedictory speech to the Senate (Tuesday, 5pm), co-deputy Larissa Waters informed party members: “You can clean the dishes as you help us clean up politics, with a weekly gift of $8”.

Gift = tax deductible donation.

Waters continued: “As Richard would say, ‘Good on you!’ ”

Sadly, the Greens didn’t go with a snap from his sockless, skivvied GQ photo-shoot.

The tea-towel has an illustration of Di Natale in a black T-shirt with the quote: “I wanted a party that had the courage to stand up for what’s right, not what’s popular. I wanted to join a party that got things done. I found my home in the Greens.”

The RDN tea towel.

London Calling

Anthony Albanese’s team is down a senior press secretary after Fiona Sugden made the tough decision to board a flight to London on Monday night.

The mother of five told Strewth she’s sad to be going but is keen to be reunited with her UK-based husband.

Sugden has secured a hush-hush job in the world of national security — based in England but working in the Middle East.

Which comes as no surprise, given her impressive CV.

After advising Kim Beazley, then Kevin Rudd through opposition and government, Sugden was posted to the British Foreign Office to run media and strategic communications for the Coalition to Counter the Islamic State.

She was lured back down under in 2018 by Bill Shorten.

Sugden hopes to return and campaign at the (potentially digital) federal election … if she can get back into Australia.

The earliest possible date for the poll? August 7, 2021.

Kevin Rudd power walking with then press secretary Fiona Sugden.

Love’s Labor’s lost

Strewth’s ears pricked up when we heard who was being sent in to temporarily backfill the Opposition Leader’s Media Unit.

Daryl Tan, long-time media adviser to Labor frontbencher Linda Burney.

Tan was last mentioned in this august organ after he was “counselled” over a “doctored” transcript that omitted Burney’s freelancing comments on immigration and border security. Such as: a time-limit for holding asylum-seekers in offshore detention centres.

At the time, May 2018, Tan said it was all an “innocent mistake”.

Then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull didn’t agree: “Eighteen hundred words it was. ‘Apparently,’ (Burney) said, ‘an unintentional error resulted in 800 words vanishing.’ That really is quite a slip.”

In good news for Tan, it appears all is forgiven.

Never say never

Following Liberal powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan’s resignation from the Victorian party, amid branch-stacking allegations, one cultured Strewth corro reminded us of the lead character’s name in the 1984 film The Neverending Story — Bastian.

How apt!

[e-mail]