The Sauce: Why the Fangs are out for National MP

For Liberal leader Mark Speakman, blocking someone on all social media platforms appears to be the way to avoid one of the Coalition’s own MPs.

In the real world, blocking someone on all social media platforms is an act usually reserved for a toxic ex.

For Liberal leader Mark Speakman, it appears it is also a way to avoid one of the Coalition’s own MPs.

Speakman, it turns out, has blocked Nationals MP Wes Fang on all social media platforms, following Fang’s repeated attacks on the Libs.

Tensions between the NSW Liberal and National parties are always simmering below the surface. Whenever they bubble up, Fang is never far away.

True to form, Fang got tongues wagging this week when he revealed he had been blocked by the Liberal leader on Instagram.

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman and Nationals MP Wes Fang. Pictures: NewsWire

It was in a “stories” post where Fang shared a joint statement from Speakman and Nationals leader Dugald Saunders, which insisted both the Libs and Nats enjoy a “strong working relationship”.

That statement was in reaction to the federal Coalition’s messy on-again off-again divorce. A split is something – we’re told – will not happen here, despite Speakman’s disdain for one Nat in particular.

“I don’t care about Wes Fang,” Speakman said this week. “It is not part of my job to worry about the ruffled feathers or the egos of individual MPs who are the least of my worries.” Ouch.

Welcome Zoe

Zoe Elizabeth Kean at Hornsby hospital with Matt Kean, Wendy and son Thomas. Picture: Supplied

Former NSW Treasurer-turned climate advocate Matt Kean has revealed he now has another reason to “fight to protect” the world.

The Climate Change Authority chair and his partner Wendy have welcomed their second child, a daughter named Zoe Elizabeth Kean, to join their son Tom.

“(Our kids) are a constant reminder that this is their world and their future and we need to fight to protect it,” he said.

Social media 101

The young guns of the Liberal Party have long struggled to get their boomer colleagues to the 21st century.

The transition is particularly important in the face of the party’s historic defeat in metropolitan seats with young people.

That might be why this week all Liberal MPs were sent a helpful social media 101 guide from leader Mark Speakman’s officeteaching them how to use Facebook, Instagram and X to keep their constituents posted during the horrific floods in the MidNorth Coast.

The cheat sheet — seen by the Sauce — has detailed instructions including “share relevant posts to your story by clickingthe paper plane icon” and a section on how to turn on notifications and how to pin posts to the top of the page.

The Sauce was informed the guide was sent to ensure the most accurate information is being shared by MP in the age of misinformation.

And if the Liberals of Macquarie St need any more help, we are sure Labor’s social media wiz Ron Hoenig could lend a hand.

A road by any other name

It got its current name more than a century ago, but it appears some in the Minns government still need help spelling “Princes Highway”.

Opposition staffers were amused this week at a media release about crucial safety upgrades for which contained three different spellings for the major thoroughfare.

First, it was called the “Princes Highway”, then the “Princess Highway”. In the very next sentence, it was dubbed the “Prince Highway”.

That is despite the fact that the media release would have gone through many departments and offices.

Linda Silmalis is on leave

Originally published as The Sauce: Why the Fangs are out for National MP