By Kishor Napier-Raman and Noel Towell
Sad news for former foreign minister and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, with the break-up of her eight-year relationship with Sydney property developer David Panton.
Panton was often unkindly referred to as Bishop’s “handbag”, becoming a familiar sight as he accompanied the then foreign minister on her duties around the world. The pair launched a thousand gossip columns, particularly since Bishop became a red carpet and opening night staple after ending her political career.
Julie Bishop and partner David Panton at the Australian premiere of Hamilton in 2021.Credit: Getty
The romance even weathered the COVID-19 storm, which kept the couple apart for seven months in 2020 with state borders shut. Things seemed OK just a week ago as they sat down to dinner with Prince Charles at St James’s Palace in London at an event honouring the efforts of Charles’ charity the Prince’s Trust.
But when we contacted Panton’s people on Tuesday, CBD heard he’d broken the news to Bishop on Friday of his decision to end things.
All bets are off: Frank Sedgman says Nick Kyrgios can definitely win Wimbledon.Credit: John Shakespeare
Unlike other recent high-profile de-couplings - ahem, Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall - this one was done in person, over another dinner, this time at Eastbank restaurant on Macquarie Street.
“I’m going to be focused on living in Manly and Melbourne for the foreseeable future,” Panton said in a statement. “I wish Julie all the best in her ongoing stellar career.”
Bishop did not respond to a request for comment.
Punting on best serve in the business
When the overlapping sporting and punting circles of Melbourne started buzzing about an Australian tennis legend who’d taken a punt on Nick Kyrgios winning Wimbledon, back when the Canberra-born bad boy was paying $30, we immediately thought of Frank Sedgman.
The former Wimbledon champ, whose triumphs in SW19 came 70 years ago this year - he also won the men’s doubles and mixed doubles crowns at the 1952 tournament - was invited by the All England Club to London to commemorate his unique feat but has opted to mark the occasion at the Kooyong Club instead.
Nick Kyrgios on day nine of Wimbledon.Credit: Getty
Sedgman describes himself as “not a big punter” but he does co-own a racehorse with Melbourne businessman and close friend Gerry Ryan.
When asked if he was the mystery punter behind the Kyrgios bet, the 94-year-old would neither confirm nor deny, telling CBD he didn’t “want everyone to know my business”.
But he doesn’t mind the world knowing of his admiration for Kyrgios the player.
“He can definitely win it,” Sedgman said. “He’s got all the shots and the best serve in the business.”
Malley back and uncancelled
It’s been five years since CPA Australia sacked chief executive Alex Malley, who walked away with a handsome $4.9 million payout after months of ructions among the accounting association’s board, and widespread anger at his penchant for naked self-promotion.
Now Malley’s back – literally, kicking off a new gig as chief executive of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA).
Perhaps the back scratchers have short memories. Malley’s ousting followed revelations the organisation had spent $6 million worth of members’ money plugging the boss’s book, The Naked CEO (including on a Times Square billboard) and his Sunday morning television show In Conversation With Alex Malley. That was on top of the $1 million a year spent trying to make Malley a social media influencer on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Former CPA Australia head Alex Malley in 2013.Credit: Peter Braig
Revelations Malley was on a salary of $1.79 million a year poured more fuel on the bonfire of anger among CPA’s membership, and helped accelerate his demise – he was finally fired after board directors had rushed for the exits.
But all that’s clearly in the past for Malley. Reflecting on his unceremonious defenestration from the CPA, he was oddly sanguine, describing that nine-year tenure as a “fantastic period,” where the organisation “really revolutionised the way people saw us,” in a video interview with ACA president David Cahill.
He had fewer warm words for the journalists who helped tear down his attempted cult of celebrity.
“As can happen in Australia, through the process of being successful, particularly in the media, that attracted the ire of a particular segment of the media,” he said.
“It was probably the first cancel culture example that we’ve seen in this country.”
Proof, if ever, that there’s hope for the cancelled yet.
The Guardian cluster
CBD brought word last week that the Guardian Australia was loosening its tight purse strings to fly staff to Sydney for a special ninth birthday bash.
By all accounts, the night was a smashing success. But then COVID came round for kick-ons – causing a superspreader event that’s left at least 10 Guardianistas stricken.
We hear the famously COVID-cautious media organisation took great efforts to reduce the spread, holding a semi-outdoor event at Hotel Harbour View in the Rocks - no easy task given Sydney’s vile recent weather. We wish everyone a speedy recovery.
It’s time again
Gough Whitlam’s back in the ministerial wing. Minister for Defence Industry and for the Pacific Pat Conroy has placed a massive photo portrait of the Labor icon in the front entrance to his office.
Conroy had first hung the portrait, which is by an unknown artist and part of the Parliament House art collection, in his office in Opposition days - though not quite so prominently. But its position of prominence will leave no one in any doubt about where the loyalties of the Labor left warrior lie.
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