Backroom Baz: Time to prove once and for all whether Kennett really called her a ‘rude little b***h’

Baz is about to settle the score once and for all. Evidence has surfaced which could finally reveal if Jeff Kennett called a young woman a “rude little b***h”, or as he claims, a “b***h”.

Former Premier Jeff Kennett allegedly called a woman a ‘rude little bitch’ while giving a keynote address. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It has surfaced! Just last week Baz questioned the existence of a tape of the Young Liberal’s gala dinner in which former premier Jeff Kennett allegedly called Gabrielle Boffa, wife of John Pesutto’s close confidant Xavier, a “rude little bitch”.

Kennett disputes two thirds of that claim, saying he only used the word “bitch”.

Everyone else in the room Baz has spoken to say she’s rewriting history, and now it appears there is evidence to settle the matter once and for all.

Now, for Baz to get his hands on it. Watch this space.

Newbury rallies the troops

Brighton MP James Newbury caused quite the storm last week, when he rallied his local troops to stage a rarely seen protest at what was bizarrely described as a “secret” press conference held by Jacinta Allan to announce her new housing plan.

The idea that a press conference can be secret seems somewhat of an oxymoron.

Anyway, was the announcement of sky-high housing blocks in Brighton the last straw for long-suffering Newbury, who has spent six years on the Opposition benches?

Baz noted this week a published Supreme Court order which showed he was admitted to practice law. Is a career change looming?

Hardly! “Having spent several years completing two law related post graduate degrees, I had always intended to be admitted as a lawyer,” Newbury told Baz.

“But sorry, Premier, no planned career change. You’re stuck with me.” She’ll be thrilled.

Premier shows the ‘real’ her

Jacinta Allan made a splash during her address to the Melbourne Press Club this week, the first time a premier had addressed the club in nine years.

While she used the speech to spruik her government’s suite of new housing policies, she also revealed she once dreamt of being a journalist (who doesn’t?) and landed some well timed bits of comedy in a rare dropping of her political guard in exchange for a glimpse into the real Jacinta.

Jacinta Allan gave the crowd a taste of the ‘real’ her at the Melbourne Press Club. Picture: Supplied

Perhaps it was the friendly faces among the 15-strong crowd of some of her most senior ministers including deputy Ben Carroll, housing minister Harriet Shing, Sonya Kilenny and Colin Brooks.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Paul Edbrooke, was also among he crowd of Melbourne media’s movers and shakers. In good news for the club, Allan promised to be back soon.

Policy by podcast? Why not...

As political podcasters go, former UK MP Rory Stewart is up there with the best of them.

So Baz was hardly surprised to learn Spring St’s podcast-addict, deputy premier Ben Carroll, was first in line to meet with the Rest is Politics host during his current visit to Melbourne.

Ben Carrol rubbed shoulders with former UK MP Rory Stewart this week. Picture: Supplied

Carroll, who has already met with Stewart’s podcast partner, Alistair Campbell, had a one-on-one with Stewart at his Treasury Place office talking about everything from education to criminal justice reform as well as tips for Sewart’s three-week Melbourne visit.

Baz is reliably informed there’s barely a morning that passes that Carroll isn’t listening to a podcast, but Stewart’s is most definitely a favourite.

Policy by podcast? Now, that’s new!

Will the government recognise a century-old genocide?

There’s been much internal debate in recent days over the Allan government’s position on recognising the century-old Greek-Armenian-Assyrian genocide.

The Greens were poised to move a motion when parliament resumes this week to recognise the genocide of an estimated three million people by the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

In a move that has threatened an internal split, the government told the Australian newspaper it would not support such a move.

Baz has since learnt that the position followed a major backflip on talking points circulated to MPs about how to handle the issue if asked.

First they were told to describe the “genocide of Greek, Armenian and Assyrian families, households and communities by the Ottoman Empire” as a “dark and devastating time in history.”

They were later told to “disregard previous lines” and avoid mentioning it at all. Why the sudden change in wording?

Baz is told senior minister Natalie Suleyman, of Turkish background, was less than pleased with the original messaging and made that very well known.

It looms as a major issue for the government because it could spark not just an internal spat, but an angry voter backlash against by ethnic communities.

Overheard

“I want to be the Premier who got millennials into homes. I consider that to be the fight of my life,” Jacinta Allan on her government’s new housing plan.

Guess who?

Which two senior Liberal MPs were spotted at the Flower Drum this week looking somewhat glum?

Originally published as Backroom Baz: Time to prove once and for all whether Kennett really called her a ‘rude little b***h’