The week,leading up to Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner where US PresidentJoe Bidenwill deliver his latest customary ghostwritten roast,is one endless party for the journalists,staffers and diplomatic types that call the American capital home.
And on that front,Canberra’s man in Washington,Kevin Rudd,from Queensland,is here to help. Rudd kicked off the week of festivities by opening up his private residence for the inaugural “Kangaroo Cup” – a tennis tournament and cocktail reception.
The Australian ambassador’s digs,White Oaks mansion in northwest DC,is home to the city’s only grass tennis court,and the former PM invited the city’s political and media class out for a hit. Although you imagine if Americans do the unthinkable and returnDonald Trumpto the White House in November,Rudd’s party may be no longer hot.
Among those on the court was Homeland Security SecretaryAlejandro Mayorkas,playing alongside deputy national security adviserJohnathan Finer and US AUKUS leadJames Miller (who won the day). Other notables includedPhil Gordon,national security adviser to US Vice-PresidentKamala Harris,andVinay Reddy,the White House director of speech-writing. Media types included CNN anchor Jim Acosta,Jonathan Martin of Politico and the DC media’s reigning power couple,New York Timeschief White House correspondentPeter Bakerand his wife,theNew Yorker’sSusan Glasser.
The Aussie contingent featured this masthead’s US correspondentFarrah Tomazin,Sky’sAnnelise NielsenandThe Fin’sMatt Cranston,who bravely donned the tennis whites. Guests dined on a BBQ spread featuring Aussie lamb and sausages plus a koala-inspired cocktail of Bundaberg rum and ginger beer called The Drop Bear. He’s still “Kevin from Queensland” after all.
Rudd,who never had the makings of a varsity athlete despite his forays into handball,didn’t take to the court himself,but played umpire in between rounds of schmoozing.
FREE STANDEN
Mark Standen,probably Australia’s second most infamous bent cop after recently deceased murdererRoger Rogerson,could be out of prison in a matter of weeks after the NSW State Parole Authority formed an intention to grant him parole.
Standen’s spectacular fall was like something out of a prestige TV crime drama. In 2011,the once all powerful boss of the NSW Crime Commission and law enforcement veteran was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment after being convicted of drug supply over his role in a conspiracy to import 300 kilograms of pseudoephedrine,used to make ice.
That came after a marathon trial,so long that jurors complained it had harmed them emotionally and financially,a point Standen unsuccessfully used as an argument in a 2015 appeal against his conviction.
But now,with time served,Standen is eligible for parole on June 1. Last month,the state parole authority formed an intention to grant parole at a closed meeting,meaning that,subject to a public review court hearing,Standen will soon walk free.
THE IT CROWD
On Monday,CBD of a few new-ish jobs among former state Liberal MPs who’d retired,or been booted,at last year’s election.
It was remiss of us not to mention the fate of one-term Camden MPPeter Sidgreaves,who lost the outer suburban seat to Labor’sSally Quinnell.He’s landed a post-parliamentary gig as the IT Helpdesk Manager at St Patrick’s College Campbelltown. It’s not the most glamorous work,but it’s probably more honest than the lobbying game.
TRUST ISSUES
In June,the legions of retired bureaucrats who make up the readership of public sector online trade ragThe Mandarinwill gather at Sydney’s Sofitel Wentworth,that old Liberal Party favourite,for a conference on Rebuilding Public Service Trust and Integrity.
It’s a topic some in the conference’s line-up might be all too familiar with. Among the speakers is NSW Transport SecretaryJosh Murray,whose appointment last year kicked off a whole snafu about jobs for the boys.
Murray,a former Labor staffer,party donor and friend of PremierChris Minns.was hand-picked by Transport MinisterJo Haylenfor the $588,250-a-year job of running her department. His appointment was subject to a parliamentary inquiry,which is yet to release a final report.
Also on the bill isKathrina Lo,the NSW Public Service Commissioner who,in 2022,signed off on former deputy premierJohn Barilaro’strade job in New York. Lo later told an inquiry that she’d been used as cover for Barilaro’s appointment,and would never have given it the green light had she known information subsequently made available about ministerial involvement in the selection process.
We’re sure they will have plenty of war stories to tell.
PK EVERYWHERE
The host of the ABC’s ratings trainwreck Q&A tends to be everywhere on the public broadcaster. That was especially the case when previous hostsStan GrantandHamish McDonaldreigned supreme,and its continues in thePatricia Karvelasera.
PK,who already hosts RN Breakfast every morning,has made space in her packed CV for “pop music critic”,co-writing a review ofTaylor Swift’snew album along with some of the ABC’s other resident Swifties.
Last year,the ABC gutted its arts coverage. Now,what’s left is the broadcaster’s superstars gushing over mediocre pop.
