Morrison and Albanese suit up in similar outfits in Eden-Monaro

Is there a rule about what male politicians should wear in the crucial rural seat?

Scott Morrison wears tan chinos, an open-neck light blue shirt, dark blue blazer and black RM Williams during his Eden-Monaro visit with candidate Dr Fiona Kotvojs. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Is there a rule about what male politicians must wear in Eden-Monaro? One sartorial-eyed Strewth reader noticed that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese were both suited up (metaphorically speaking) in the same clothes on the election campaign trail last week — tan chinos, an open-neck light blue shirt, dark blue blazer and black RM Williams. If the fires, drought and coronavirus weren’t enough, the good burghers of the NSW south coast will now have to endure a three-horse race after the Nationals flagged their intention to run a candidate. According to backbencher Barnaby Joyce: “To be taken seriously in the comp, you have to field a team for the games.”

Anthony Albanese and Labor’s Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers show off a subtle variation of the Eden-Monaro look. Picture: AAP

Evans above!

Guard your activated almonds — is Pete Evans considering taking his conspiracy theories to Canberra? When asked on Instagram if he’s ever thought about going into politics to “try and change what u (sic) think is wrong?”, the dumped celebrity chef ominously replied “stay tuned”. Call us crazy, but Evans and his debunked $15,000 COVID light wouldn’t be out of place on the Senate crossbench circus. Then there’s Roman Quaedvlieg. The sacked Border Force boss said he turned down an offer to run in the 2019 federal election but is still open to a career in show business for ugly people. Quaedvlieg wouldn’t confess which party approached him, but Labor sources told the Sunday tabloids the opposition had internal conversations about him last year. Ahead of the release of his tell-all tome, Tour De Force (out Tuesday), Quaedvlieg took aim at Peter Dutton’s failed leadership spill, saying the Home Affairs Minister lacked the “breadth and depth of experience that potential prime ministers should possess … I personally wouldn’t vote for him for prime minister”. We can’t wait. BYO popcorn.

Barilaro’s bum steer

“If bosses don’t give their staff an extra long weekend to get to the bush for a beer, then in the wise words of the late Bob Hawke, they’re a bum,” according to NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro. We’re still waiting for the couldabeen Eden-Monaro candidate to don the white suit, but he’s so far done a pretty good impression of the former Labor PM. First there was Morrison with his Hawke Accord-inspired IR reform push (incidentally, when asked if that makes her Bill  Kelty, ACTU boss Sally McManus said “I just don’t have the hair”), and now Barra loudly declaring: “I’m calling for a public holiday this Friday.” We knew Coalition leaders were obsessed with Labor, but this is next level.

Shorten sweet

Showing shades of 2012, Bill Shorten’s “I haven’t seen what (Julia Gillard) said but let me say I support what it is that she said”, the current Labor leader said this when asked about China last Thursday.

Reporter: “Have you spoken to (Premier) Daniel Andrews about the Victorian government's decision to sign up to (China’s) Belt and Road Initiative?”

Anthony Albanese: “No.”

Reporter: “Is it still your position that a future Labor government would not sign a Belt and Road agreement with China?”

Albanese: “Yes.”

Cut out for greatness

Did you spot Dominic Cummings in western Sydney this weekend? A cutout of the embattled adviser to UK PM Boris Johnson was among the cardboard crowd at Friday’s game between the Roosters and Rabbitohs. That’s right, football is back — and so are the on-field shenanigans. For $22, fanatics can buy an NRL “Fan in the Stand”, a “photo printed on a 100 per cent recycled cutout” and placed in a socially distanced seat at their team’s empty home stadium. Cue the prankers! How appropriate, given Cummings is currently under fire for breaking the UK’s travel lockdown rules. What’s another 17,000km? The NRL is vetting the snaps sent in and has already rejected North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Maybe he’s a Melbourne Storm man? We can’t wait to see who pops up next: Sharks supporter Morrison in a Parramatta jersey? Or Bunnies diehard Albanese cheering on Brisbane?

Scott curries favour

“Sunday ScoMosas with mango chutney, all made from scratch,” the PM boasted on social media, with shots of his homemade food. “A pity my meeting with (Indian PM) Narendra Modi this week is by video link. I would have liked to share them with him.” Perhaps curry fan Michaelia Cash is free? The PM revealed a few more of his iso activities to KIIS FM last week: daily callisthenics, a Disney Princess puzzle with deputy PM Michael McCormack, watching all of Star Wars and Ozark (plus one episode of Tiger King — “it didn’t work for me”). Curiously, the transcript of this chat is missing from his website. Why?

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