By Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
In the dying minutes of his penultimate day on air, retiring 2GB shock jock Ray Hadley offered a rare apology.
The subject of Hadley’s apology was Rob Macaulay, former chief executive of Greyhound Racing NSW who either resigned or was pushed out from the organisation after a former chief vet’s report revealed heinous levels of animal cruelty in the sport.
“In May this year I was covering a story about greyhound racing and as part of that I made a number of comments about Robert Macaulay, who at the time was the CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW,” Hadley told listeners.
Radio heavyweight Ray Hadley has said sorry.Credit: James Brickwood
“New information has revealed a number of comments I made about Mr Macaulay to be incorrect,” he said.
“I now withdraw the incorrect allegations, and I apologise to Robert Macaulay for any hurt caused to him.”
Macaulay didn’t return CBD’s calls, leaving us none the wiser about what Hadley had said to cross the thin legal line.
But the radio veteran has certainly had a long interest in the sport. Hadley’s scathing criticism of Mike Baird’s 2016 attempts to shut down greyhound racing probably contributed to the then-premier’s ultimate backdown. Eight years on, it was Greyhound Racing NSW getting the Hadley blowtorch.
In that case, the blowtorch was entirely deserved. After the chief vet’s report and Macaulay’s departure, Racing Minister David Harris hastily convened a government inquiry into GRNSW.
Highlights so far have included commissioner Lea Drake expressing extreme disappointment after Macaulay’s barrister James Sheller, SC, left last week’s hearings early for a “social engagement” without telling her, after thinking that he was no longer required to be there.
And of course, acting chief executive Wayne Billett (who has eyes on the top job) offered repeated variations on “I don’t recall” and then headed off to GRNSW’s ritzy Christmas party held on a floating island beach club in Sydney Harbour between days of hearings.
Many in GRNSW weren’t exactly thrilled about CBD’s report on the Christmas party. Of course, had Baird held his nerve all those years ago, we wouldn’t be talking about any of this.
Who’s got the Bill?
Retiring Labor legend Bill Shorten’s latest farewell is Wednesday, December 18, at the Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne, with Housing Minister Clare O’Neil playing host.
Guest stars will include former union boss Bill Kelty and Disability Royal Commissioner Rhonda Galbally.
If punters want to bid on, as the program puts it, “priceless memoraBILLia”, proceeds will go to support re-election of MP Peter Khalil. That’s our Bill. To the very last, still bringing the ZINGERS.
Fit kings
Call it the Parliament House paunch.
In a workplace traditionally known for long hours, high stress, mediocre food options and occasionally irresponsible consumption of alcohol, new MPs, staff and gallery hacks based in the Big House frequently find themselves packing on the pounds.
But nobody told Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh. Fresh from seeing his 13th tome, The Shortest History of Economics, feted on The Economist’s annual best books of 2024 list, the Labor frontbencher is on the brink of defending his title as federal parliament’s fittest politician.
Leigh, who does marathons and triathlons in his spare time, took out first place in not-for-profit AUSactive’s Fit for Office challenge last year. But with the 2024 challenge closing, he was neck and neck with rookie Liberal MP Simon Kennedy, with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor sitting in third place, ahead of another 37 MPs and senators and more than 100 staffers.
As the clock wound down on the challenge, his rival Kennedy told us he was predicting a late swing, with a big night of running ahead.
Leigh also seems to be taking his competition portfolio rather seriously. “It’s nice in a hyper-partisan world to have a contest like this which crosses political boundaries and allows us to do something fun with the other side,” he told CBD, while adding it was always nice to beat the Liberals.
Of course, were former Wallabies captain David Pocock not otherwise busy welcoming his first baby, the leaderboard might look rather different.
Rumours quashed
Political duo Josh Burns and Georgie Purcell are still very much together, despite rumours to the contrary.
Burns is the Jewish Labor MP and federal member for Macnamara who had his office firebombed in an antisemitic attack and has been booed by some members of his own community unhappy with the government’s Middle East policy.
Purcell is a Victorian state MP for the Animal Justice Party and a supporter of self-determination for Palestine. The couple hard-launched their relationship at the Press Gallery Midwinter Ball in June.
“When we first declared our relationship, we said we really value our privacy and the importance of having something away from politics. That hasn’t changed, especially with the ongoing interest surrounding it,” Burns told CBD.
“But we are still very much happily together, spending time between our communities and supporting each other every day.”
Noisy neighbours
Everyone loves funny guy Andy Lee – except anyone living anywhere near the TV star’s massive renovation of his historic derelict mansion Ravenswood, which he and fiancee Rebecca Harding bought for more than $8 million in 2021.
“The noise is just horrendous,” a neighbour told CBD. “Some residents just leave – they go away for a week at a time and come back on the weekend.
“He’s lost a lot of community goodwill in the way this has turned out.”
The project in Hawthorn on the banks of the Yarra River is said to be worth $5 million and involves building a tunnel from the historic 1876 mansion to the new build on the river. It even has its own Instagram account, @thebuild_ravenswood, which has 172,000 followers.
So far it’s proved a god-tier level PR strategy. Even Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has popped in for a site inspection. The most unimaginable fire hydrant of PR guff has been splashed across Daily Mail Australia, Stellar, MSN, 7News, Mamamia, Who, New Idea and, er, Nine, publisher of this column.
But residents are furious due to the 26 weeks of construction noise for piling reinforced steel pillars. Dust from the constant rock-breaking has even coated solar panels on neighbouring houses.
When CBD visited on Wednesday morning, the noise was so loud and constant it proved disorientating. A resident hunched into her jacket as she passed the site walking her dog, as if that small act might guard against the incredible din.
But good news approaches, according to one builder CBD spoke to.
“We are just about done with the noise. That’s everyone’s Christmas present.”
Locals say relations and communications have improved recently following complaints.
“We are excited to continue to show everyone what Flack Studios and our builder Visioneer are creating for us!” Lee and Harding said via a spokeswoman.
We can’t wait. Just as well as it will be impossible to avoid.