And while any mention of the town is enough to elicit howls of frustration at Liberal HQ,foot soldiers in that internecine blow-up say complaints made to outgoing state directorChris Stonehave fallen on deaf ears.
Last November,former state executive memberJean Haynes wrote to Stone making a formal complaint about an email sent to branch members in the regional electorate of Farrer which revealed her home address. She also characterised language used about her in the email as amounting to “vilification and harassment”.
Almost a year on,no action has been taken. Later that month,the party’s deputy state director and general counselDorina Ilievska responded to Haynes’ follow-up with a tepid apology.
“Apologies,I was not personally aware of your emails below,or your complaint,at the time of preparing and finalising the report,” she wrote.
“I have discussed the matter with the State Director and it appears that unfortunately,he had inadvertently filed this correspondence along with some other unrelated emails,which is why it had not been passed on for consideration”. Oopsy.
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley has been a target of internal Liberal Party divisions.Alex Ellinghausen
CBD understands the party viewed the complaint as trivial,and dismissed it. But if so,that wasn’t articulated to Haynes who in February wrote a scathing response to Ilievska,copying in soon-to-be SenatorMaria Kovacic.
“I have been bullied and humiliated. The optics of this is appalling,given the context of an older man who has been in the party for years versus a younger,female member who is newly attempting to step into leadership roles,” she said. No reply.
Stone’s stint as state director comes to an end later this month,although he’s still hanging around the party until he finds a new gig.
DERBY DAZE
Of all the places to wet one’s whistle at Flemington Racecourse’s Birdcage this time of year,the TAB marquee is the consistent favourite for our nation’s political class and there was a decent field on show for Saturday’s Derby Day.
You really need a federal government frontbencher to go along to one of these things,just because,and Skills and Training MinisterBrendan O’Connor was the Albanese cabinet member showing his face. Meanwhile,his Labor colleague,speaker of the House of Representatives and certified Big UnitMilton Dick was also inside the tent.
Labor lobbyist – and formerBill Shorten chief of staff –Ryan Lidell set up shop under the canvas again this year,along with his fellow ALP-linked influencerEvan Moorehead.
From the other side of politics,Michael Kroger,two-time Victorian state Liberal party president,was seen among the throng,as was Australian Hotels Association bossSteve Ferguson.
Tabcorp director David Gallop closely watching the runners with former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke.Arsineh Houspian
You’d expect some sporting types in the bookies tent,and former Australian men’s test captainMichael Clarke and Panthers NRL starNathan Clearywere duly in attendance. No sign of Cleary’s new squeeze,Matildas starMary Fowler,who has better things to do.
You want business? We got business.
Big-mouthed retail mogulGerry Harvey popped in later in the day,accompanied by his wife and Harvey Norman CEOKatie Page,as did Herald and Weekly Times chair – and Murdoch dynasty member –Penny Fowler.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has put subtle pressure on the RBA not to raise interest rates on Tuesday.Alex Ellinghausen
BANK ON IT
Most economists reckon the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates on Melbourne Cup day,despite a bit of subtle political pressure from TreasurerJim Chalmers not to.
But that sort of consensus on the future of the all-important cash rate hasn’t always been present at Australia’s biggest bank.
The Commonwealth Bank correctly forecast that the RBA would decide at its October meeting to keep rates steady,and the CBA is now forecasting a rate rise on Tuesday. The banking giant’s Australian economics team has been consistently on the money when it comes to reading the RBA’s next move.
But in a briefing note to clients on the day of the October meeting,Commbank’s head of credit strategy,Gus Medeiros, said there was a high likelihood of a rate hike. That aged well. The note would go on to suggest that the cash rate could get as high as 6 per cent.
The Reserve Bank governor has dodged questions about whether another interest rate hike is on the way.
Now,we’re not exactly your classic pointy-headed economists here at CBD. But given all the alarm bells ringing about aggressive hikes,we reckon interest rates at 6 per cent could well tip us toward recession territory.
Hardly soothing news for punters who’ve faced months of interest rate pain throughout the past year. And that mixed messaging from the bank can’t be good for clients’ nerves either.
In the background meanwhile,there’s been a bit of churn in the team lead by Commbank’s chief economist and head of researchStephen Halmarick. The bank’s executive director of fixed income,Martin Whetton,has been the most high-profile departure,defecting to Westpac as head of financial markets strategy,where he’s working withBill Evansand his successorLuci Ellis.
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