Albo’s Senate snub: What’s up with the upper house?

Simon Birmingham has been keeping busy since his party’s loss at the federal election and taking a close interest, as a good opposition operator should, in Anthony Albanese’s new ministry.

Birmingham, the Liberals’ Senate leader, is nonplussed that few of the new government’s movers and shakers will be joining him in the red chamber with just four Labor senators in the new ministry; Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher, Murray Watt and Don Farrell (remember him?).

That’s the lowest upper house representation on the front bench since the Senate was expanded to 76 members in 1985 and Birmingham’s research, with a little help from the Parliamentary Library, suggests you have to go back to before World War II – to Sir Robert Menzies′ second stint as PM – to find as few senators in the ministry – and the Senate had just 36 members back then.

In Bob Hawke’s day, there were 64 senators and the Silver Bodgie managed to have six of them in his ministry – and five in cabinet, while Gough Whitlam in 1972, managed to have six Senate ministers from a chamber that was 60-strong.

In 1945, there were only 36 senators from all parties, but another Labor legend, Ben Chifley, squeezed six of them into his first ministry.

So what’s going on? If Albanese shares the view of his predecessor Paul Keating that the Senate is “unrepresentative swill” then he’s probably not the type of bloke to say so publicly.

But Birmingham is not impressed, perhaps because he and his upper house colleagues will be very short on ministerial targets come Senate question time.

“It seems that Anthony Albanese either views his Labor senators as incapable or is trying to avoid the scrutiny applied in the Senate,” the Liberals’ Senate leader told CBD.

“Reducing the number of Senate ministers to such historic lows is clearly an attempt to dodge the increased transparency the senate applies.”

ALBO AND THE ENTOURAGE

Anthony Albanese is wasting no time racking up the air miles on “Toto 1″ – as the Prime Ministerial plane now goes by. After jetting to Tokyo for the Quad Leaders’ summit within days of Labor’s election victory (with votes still being counted), the Prime Minister is now in Jakarta where he hopes to strengthen ties with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s relentless touring schedule is a sign the government hopes to re-establish relationships it believes were left to wither under the Morrison government.

But on its latest trip, this Labor government is also trying to lay down its pro-business bona fides. The political delegation – Albanese, Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell, Industry Minister Ed Husic and Darwin-based MP Luke Gosling – are joined by some serious business heft.

Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn, Bluescope Steel’s Mark Vassella, Telstra boss Andrew Penn, Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins, Fortescue Metals Deputy Chair Mark Barnaba, Westfarmers boss Rob Scott and Sun Cable’s David Griffin are all travelling to Jakarta.

The Business Council of Australia will have two seats at the table, with chief executive Jennifer Westacott and global engagement committee chair Warwick Smith, a former Howard government minister dubbed “Australia’s Mr China,” making the trip.

From the public sector are Austrade CEO Xavier Simonet and Monash University vice chancellor Margaret Gardner, whose husband Glyn Davis was appointed by Albanese to head the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

WHAT’S THE GO WITH RICHO?

Political lobbying shop PremierNational could sense the way the wind was blowing when it appointed former Keating minister and Labor powerbroker Graham “Richo” Richardson as special counsel back in March.

But the Sky News talking head hasn’t yet had the opportunity to flex his sagging muscles with the fortnight-old Labor government. So far, Richo hasn’t been listed by PremierNational on the federal lobbyists register. He does show up on the NSW register, but isn’t listed as active.

Legally, Richo can’t lobby the new government unless he’s on the register, raising a few eyebrows.

But it’s all no big deal, says PremierNational boss Michael Photios.

“It seems everyone’s excited to see Richo work his magic! But alas, he hasn’t lobbied yet,” he told CBD. “With the rules absolutely clear, Richo will go live this week on the state and federal lobby registers and off to work we go!”

SPOTTED: TEAL TINGES AT SYDNEY DANCE CO

The opening night of the Sydney Dance Company’s ab [intra], the show which had French audiences wagging their baguettes in appreciation, drew a veritable who’s who of the city’s establishment last Thursday.

Arts minister Ben Franklin gave opening remarks, but it was his predecessor Don Harwin who grabbed the best seats in the Roslyn Packer Theatre. Harwin’s post-parliamentary gig – he was appointed to the Australia Council board in the Morrison government’s dying days – clearly still comes with a few perks.

But Harwin and Franklin might’ve felt a little out of place among a Sydney upper-crust that is now increasingly teal. Adorning the Walsh bay precinct was fashion designer Bianca Spender, older sister of new Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.

Businesswoman Jillian Broadbent, a big donor to the theatre company recently spotted handing out for Spender the younger, was also in attendance. Also making an appearance was architect and philanthropist Penelope Seidler, Allens veteran Zeke Solomon (both of whom are donors) and fashion industry powerhouse Kellie Hush.

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