Strewth: Michael McCormack mired in Broad mop-up

There must be moments Michael McCormack looks back on the census debacle and gets wistful about what a breeze that was.

Michael McCormack appropriately earnest at an abattoir. Source: Twitter

Onwards & upwards

There must be moments Michael McCormack looks back on the census debacle and gets wistful about what a breeze that was. That was then, alas; the Andrew “G’day mate” Broad mopping-up operation is now. “Yes, in hindsight, if I had have had the full facts of the story I would’ve done things differently,” the Deputy Prime Minister lamented yesterday. Well, we’ve all been there. Still, MickMack’s eyes are firmly on the future of the electorate of Mallee: “I urge and encourage anybody who is of the nature to want to represent the Nationals …” How does one be of that nature? It’s hard to say, though we believe MickMack is trying to light the path ahead with a couple of fresh photos.

A festive wombat, left, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. Picture: Instagram

Here’s one from Instagram of him with a festive wombat. (Our mate Simon Thomsen thoughtfully suggests the caption, “When Broady said ‘eats roots and leaves’, I thought he meant …”) A touch more courageously, above is one of his Twitter snaps from yesterday — with dead meat down Junee way.

Remains of the g’day

On which note, here’s Peter Cosgrove’s jewelled scimitar of a doom note: “His Excellency the Governor-General directs it to be notified, for general information, that on 18 December 2018, he revoked the appointment of the Honourable Andrew John Broad as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.” And the coup de grace: “By His Excellency’s command.” Be kind enough to observe a moment’s silence.

Order of the boot

Sticking with the Nats, we were chuffed to see former senator Bill O’Chee mentioned in dispatches, voicing his opposition to women becoming members of Brisbane’s Tattersall’s Club. Quoth he: “It’s really important. Men have got to be allowed to be themselves in their own company.” How might that be? Here’s a snippet from our old muckers George Megalogenis and Kevin Meade in this august organ in 1998; it builds quietly to the beautifully blunt poetry of its climax: “John Howard conceded yesterday there was strong public pressure to reform politicians’ superannuation perks following the revelation that 34-year-old National Party senator Bill O’Chee will leave politics with immediate access to a lifetime super pension worth almost $1.4 million … Senator O’Chee refused yesterday to discuss the disclosure by this newspaper of his payout — $45,000-a-year pension equal to $1.4m over a lifetime. ‘The Australian can go root my boot,’ he said.”

A wet finish

Also in the departure lounge, if Four Corners gun Sarah Ferguson ever turns her attention to Karl Stefanovic the way she did to the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard calamities, we hope she calls it The Karling Season. Which brings us to today’s Christmas cocktail. You’ll need 30ml white rum, 15ml each of cognac, dry gin and extra dry vermouth, and 7.5ml each of freshly squeezed lime juice and pure cane sugar syrup. Shake the lot with ice and fine strain into a martini glass. Voila, you have an Adios Amigos.

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