By Noel Towell, Michael Koziol and Zoe Samios
“Definitely no conspiracy theories,” declared Telstra chairman John Mullen when asked why the telco’s long-standing chief executive, Andy Penn, announced he was leaving the day after the federal budget.
You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Penn’s retirement from the company he had run for nearly seven years was certainly not unexpected, but the industry was baffled by the decision to do it on March 30. The day after the federal budget is perfect for burying big news, after all.
Credit: John Shakespeare
More peculiar? The 2am dial-in from an unshaven Mullen, who opted for a collared blue shirt instead of his usual suit attire on a call from Europe. The absence of Telstra spinner Steve Carey and head of investor relations Nathan Burley was also noted by those on the call.
Penn and Mullen both tried to dampen any speculation there was more to it. Penn’s 59th birthday, which happens to be March 30, was provided as the reason for the timing. And what better way to celebrate the passing of another year?
Those close to Telstra believe the reason is sound. But we are sure there’ll be questions when Penn fronts his executives at an all-day meeting in Melbourne today.
There were also eyebrows raised about Mullen’s “process” — or perhaps lack thereof — for selecting Penn’s replacement, chief financial officer Vicki Brady.
“The process has been very thorough and well planned,” Mullen said. “Once we knew that Andy was contemplating this decision, we started to canvas the market. We extensively canvassed domestic candidates as well as international.”
But it appears there was no recruitment company that handled the process, and we hear there are Telstra executives who thought they might have had a chance who never got the call-up.
There were no complaints about Brady’s ascent to the top job. In fact, investors were quick to say what a brilliant replacement Telstra had found. The only problem is that nobody in the market seems to know who else Mullen actually “canvassed”.
JOSH’S BIG NUMBERS
We brought word on Monday that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his “Kooyong Colts” had surrendered their mantle this year of top fundraisers in the Cancer Council’s Hawthorn Relay for Life this year to “Voices” independent challenger Monique Ryan’s “Team Mon”.
So some Kooyong constituents were confused when they read in Frydenberg’s latest newsletter, sent out on Monday, that the Colts were proud to be the top fundraising team “on the day”.
Josh Frydenberg and rival Monique Ryan with duelling advertising in the Kooyong electorate.Credit: Simon Schluter
We asked Frydenberg’s people to straighten the matter out for us and it’s fair to say they were a little testy about answering questions about Relay for Life on budget day, but they helpfully suggested that we should read the fine print.
As of 6pm on Saturday, the day of the relay, the Colts were indeed the top fundraising team, with Team Mon surging into its top position as more donations were updated on the relay’s website.
History will record that in the end, Team Mon managed to pull in almost $40,000 in the final tally, compared to $34,000 for the Colts, as the Frydenberg camp knew perfectly well when it sent out its newsletter.
It is a contest that looks set to get heated in the lead-up to polling day but maybe the rival campaigns can find common ground over a coffee or something stronger in one of Glenferrie Road’s hostelries.
After all, the respective campaign HQ’s will be less than 80 metres from each other on the famous strip. Ryan’s outfit is already established at 637 Glenferrie Road while team Frydenberg is about to set up shop at No. 655.
But for now, not even non-combatants are off-limits for the local council which is busily marking the cards of residents who offend against the planning code by displaying more than one poster or corflute.
So, beaten 2019 Greens candidate, high-profile barrister and refugee advocate Julian Burnside, QC, should expect a call from City of Boroondara officials.
When CBD drove past Burnside’s Hawthorn pile this week, the front fence sported no less than four posters declaring his allegiance to this year’s Greens hopeful, Piers Mitchem.
THREE TRIBES
Shane Warne’s friends and family were the picture of unity at the late cricket legend’s massive state memorial service at the MCG on Wednesday but when it came to raising a glass to the great man after the ceremony, three distinct tribes emerged.
The spinner’s parents, Keith and Bridgett Warne, retired to the Pullman on the Park, a short walk from the ’G, accompanied by the many of the mature-aged members of the VIP crowd.
Brooke, Summer and Jackson Warne in front of the newly named Shane Warne Stand at the MCG.Credit: Clinton Plowman/Flash Studio
Most of the 30, 40 and 50-somethings headed for Crown casino and Southbank where Warne teammate and former Test wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist, West Indies great Brian Lara and former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke were among the revellers.
Warne’s children, Brooke, Jackson and Summer Warne, led a crowd of 100 friends and family, mostly in the 18-25 age bracket, who partied at The Emerson in South Yarra until the small hours.
Hawthorn Premiership defender Campbell Brown, who’s a lot more than 25, stood out from the crowd as did Geelong legend and veteran TV broadcaster Billy Brownless, who is even older still.
Jacqueline Maley cuts through the noise of the federal election campaign with news, views and expert analysis. Sign up to our Australia Votes 2022 newsletter here.