Laming’s cash blitz

Liberal MP Andrew Laming is not letting a slew of scandals and a forced early retirement stand in the way of offering his constituents cash.

Liberal MP Andrew Laming is not letting a slew of scandals and a forced early retirement stand in the way of offering his constituents cash. Laming is supposed to be on a month’s mental health leave, after revelations he harassed women online and took inappropriate photos of a Brisbane mother, but on Wednesday his local paper, the Redland City Bulletin, ran a full-page ad from Laming’s office. The ad called for local charities and organisations to apply for $1000 to $5000 volunteer grants by April 23, with Laming’s name emblazoned across the bottom of the page in huge font. It just happens the Redland City Bulletin came out on Wednesday, the same day reports emerged that Laming had backed a $55,000 government grant to a local rugby club linked to a staffer’s husband. The big difference with the grants Laming was offering in the Redland City Bulletin this week? They’re completely within his power to give, while the other one had to go through the government. Now Laming has every right to offer community grants as all federal MPs can, but big ads in the local paper with his name all over it, when he’s supposed to be completely off duty, are very interesting. Strewth understands the ad came in late and was handed to the Redland City Bulletin very much in the heat of the controversies around Laming and his decision to not run for LNP preselection again. Sounds like Laming wants his name to stay in the minds of voters in the federal seat of Bowman. Scott Morrison better hope he’s not considering an independent run at the next election.

The Laming advertisement.

G-G Rolls on

Governor-General David Hurley’s Rolls-Royce is costing Aussie taxpayers more than $17,000 and it hits the road only 10 times a year, at a maximum. Government House has told Senate estimates that the G-G’s ceremonial car, which Government House has had since the 1970s, cost taxpayers $14,390.16 alone in upkeep in the 2019-20 financial year. The Rolls was used a wee bit less in the 2020-21 financial year but still cost $4310.20. Throw in rego for both years — $1619 — and we’re all paying a lot for an old car the de facto head of state hardly uses. Government House said Hurley was last driven in the Rolls-Royce last December for the Duntroon graduation parade. It has also been used for Hurley’s swearing-in in 2019, the opening of the post-election parliament that same year, and credential ceremonies for dozens of new ambassadors and high commissioners to Australia. So that’s 10 times in 2019-20 and six times in 2020-21. That’s a lot of dough for very little mileage.

Vice-regal singalong

The G-G’s Rolls-Royce adventures are a good reminder that his wife, Linda Hurley, likes to get staff and guests at Government House to participate in singalongs. Some of her favourites include You Are My Sunshine, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, and Singin’ in the Rain. This is a threat to the nation and must be stopped.

Hawthorne goals

Anthony Albanese proved on his state election tour of Tasmania that he can appeal to both sports fans and the literati. “You can only barrack for one team. Is it Collingwood or is it Essendon?” he was asked on ABC Radio Tasmania on Thursday. “No. Hawthorne,” Albanese replied, according to the ALP transcript of the interview. Now we assume that’s a typo and he actually said ‘Hawthorn’. Unless the Opposition Leader is secretly talking about the great American 19th-century novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne? We understand Hawthorne’s masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, is a huge hit among the dudes in the MCG’s changing rooms.

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