How a swim at a Mexican beach led Victor Dominello to politics

Each politician has their own story to tell as to what made them enter public life. In the case of Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello it involved a Mexican beach, a full moon, a can of coke and a chat to the universe. He tells the story …

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Swimming in the waters off Mexico under a full moon with a Malibu in one hand and a coconut under the other – a flotation device – is not how one would imagine

You read that correctly.

It was August 15, 2008 – exactly a decade since the passing of his beloved father Frank – when the then law firm partner said he had “a moment”.

The Mexican beach where Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello went for a swim under a full moon before asking the universe for career advice.

While happy in his legal career and grateful to have such a close-knit family, Dominello said he felt the need to ask the universe if he should change his career path or stay in law.

“I remember that there was a full moon,” he said.

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“I went for a swim. I had coconut under one arm, and a bottle of coke and possibly a Malibu in the other.

“I remember saying to the universe how I feel like I am the luckiest person on the planet – I had a great job, a great family. I’m living in McMahon’s Point. I said: ‘If you want, I will continue as a lawyer and drift on in to the sunset. Maybe do more pro-Bono work or charity work. But if you want me to do something different, let me know. Give me a sign.”

It did.

Mr Dominello swapped a successful career as a lawyer for one in politics. Picture: Joel Carrett

Two weeks later, Dominello said he received a call from his old Young Liberal pal Gladys Berejiklian who urged him to rejoin the party and run for the seat of Ryde.

At first, he resisted: “I said, who wants to be a politician – people think politicians are idiots”

Eventually, he softened, telling Berejiklian that he would do so only if she could convince his mum and two sisters.

“One sister said ‘don’t do it – politicians are idiots’, but the other sister said I should as it was an amazing opportunity,” he said.

“When Gladys spoke to my mum, she also said to do it and that ‘dad would be proud’. So I did.”

And there you have it.

FALSE ALARM

At any other time, a politician changing a Twitter profile photo would not cause undue alarm – except when there is a Cabinet reshuffle on the horizon.

Such is the jumpiness of some ministers that The Sauce was actually alerted by one to Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello supposedly having swapped out his old photo with one accompanying Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Was it a case of sucking up to the boss in the hope of a promotion, or wanting to share the limelight of the premier’s success in all but stopping a global pandemic in its tracks would rub off?

Premier Gladys Berejiklian with Mr Dominello.

When The Sauce contacted Dominello, he appeared to be surprised to learn that his that his profile picture had changed.

“What? I don’t think so?”

Had he been hacked?

While Dominello and the premier go way back – the pair met in the Young Liberals – a quick check, confirmed the picture hadn’t been changed and was the same one that had been in place for the past three years.

Like we said, “jumpy”.

BIKE BAN

Which senior Berejiklian government minister recently decided to ditch the car to ride his motorbike to work – only for the security guards at the office to block him from entering the office carpark?

The guards did not even budge when the minister, who usually rides in to work in a ministerial car, told them who he was.

“I said ‘I am a minister and I normally park in here in the ministerial car, but I decided I would take the bike in today’,” he said.

NSW Parliament House in Macquarie Street, Sydney.

The guards simply explained that it was a building rule that motorbikes were not allowed in the carpark.

It is understood the minister parked the bike in the street where local police stationed in the vicinity volunteered to keep an eye on it.

As for the identity of the minister, The Sauce can reveal he appears to be somewhat of a collector of licences.

Along with riding a motorbike, the minister also has a licence to fly a plane, shoot a gun and fish.

Who said there was no talent on the frontbench?

BEAR PIT BLUES

The theatre of Question Time has come under threat with the NSW government seeking to change the rules of how it wants business conducted in the famed bear pit.

Instead of questions being fired off to unsuspecting ministers, the government wants all MPs to forewarn their targets of any planned skulduggery.

According to the proposed sessional orders obtained by The Sauce, NSW MPs must “notify the Leader of the House by 12noon” of the sitting day of “those ministers to whom they intend to ask questions”.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet speaking during questions time. Picture: Adam Yip

Ministers who are not given advance notification, will not be required to give an answer, according to the new rules.

As would be expected, the State opposition has cried foul over the planned rule change, which they claim will give ministers even greater opportunity to prepare some kind of non-answer – or have an announcement ready to try retain control of the news agenda.

While the changes are expected to be blocked in the Upper House, the Government will use its numbers in the Lower House to implement the change.

Talk about fun police.

POLITICIAN PETE?

Is controversial chef Pete Evans thinking about activating a career in politics?

Evens recently alluded to as much on a cryptic Instagram post.

The post was of a speech being made by President Donald Trump on the US would be severing its ties with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Celebrity chef Pete Evans.

Beneath the post, Evans wrote: “Please understand what this means and I welcome comments for people to share why this is so important for the bigger picture”.

Among the more than 400 comments, one follower asked why Evans himself didn’t go in to politics “if u feel so strongly”.

Evans reply? “Stay tuned”.

You heard it here first.

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Originally published as How a swim at a Mexican beach led Victor Dominello to politics