The Sauce: Albo corners NSW minister about Souths stadium move

He may been there for a relaxing night at the footy, but PM and Rabbitohs tragic Anthony Albanese took the chance to put in a good word for his beloved Souths at Wednesday’s Origin decider.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese turned up to Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park to watch the State of Origin decider, but it was clearly not the only thing on his mind.

The Sauce can reveal that upon seeing NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper in the NRL box on Wednesday night, Albo, who arrived with fiancee Jodie Haydon, was overhead giving his state Labor counterpart a “friendly” dig over the recent Souths stadium decision.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs want to break a contract they signed with the state government last decade that will keep them at Accor Stadium until 2030.

They want to move to Allianz to be closer to their fanbase, arguing they signed the Accor contract with the belief that the stadium would receive significant upgrades.

However, Kamper has told the NRL club that a move away from Accor was not financially viable.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Sport Minister Steve Kamper. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

It is understood breaking the contract could cost the government millions of taxpayer dollars because other commercial contracts – such as the caterers that supply the grounds and naming rights – would have to be broken.

The Sauce hears Albo – a self-confessed Souths tragic – raised the issue with Kamper “in a friendly matter”.

The issue, nonetheless, was raised.

LEDGER LINK

As electorate offices go, the one occupied by Federal Labor MP for Banks, Zhi Soon, has to be one of the least inspired.

With its bland brick facade and a roller door entrance, the Revesby building resembles the abandoned state bank that it once was, rather than an office for a federal representative.

MP for Banks Zhi Soon’s electorate office in Sydney. Picture: Supplied

That said, it does have a surprising backstory – the exterior was used as the “bank” in the bank robbery scene in the 1999 movie Two Hands, starring the late Heath Ledger.

Another fun fact: the inside scenes of the robbery were filmed in the neighbouring office, now occupied by NSW MP Kylie Wilkinson.

The bank robbery scene in the film Two Hands. Picture: Supplied

The neighbouring MP’s office was used as the set for the inside of the robbery. Picture: Supplied

POLLIE HOLLIES

It’s that time of year when many pollies take flight to warmer climates.

In the case of NSW MPs, it will be the last opportunity for most to have a decent vacation before preparations begin for the March 2027 state election.

As for where they have all headed, state Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is on a “quick trip” to the United Kingdom and Norway, while Opposition transport and roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward is in Spain

Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane is in Bali.

Not everyone has headed to sunnier shores – Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister John Graham have both zipped across to New Zealand for separate family holidays.

NO BRIBE

Before Jo Haylen was forced to resign from the transport portfolio amid the chauffeur winery scandal, she had been receiving some bizarre correspondence.

The Sauce can reveal the Summer Hill MP had been receiving cash donations ranging from $5 to $100 from an anonymous sender, with seemingly specific instructions on what it was to be spent on.

Haylen, who disclosed the unsolicited donations in the latest ministerial disclosure log, listed 13 separate donations sent to her office between May and October last year.

These included $16 “for improving transport”, $100 “to reopen the gateway to innovation program”, $5 to “consider building a passenger line from Olympic Park to Campsie” and $5 to build “two additional train tracks beaten Lidcombe and Homebush”.

Haylen declared she had received $406 in total from the sender, which she disclosed had been forwarded to Barnardos Australia.

Originally published as The Sauce: Albo corners NSW minister about Souths stadium move