The former trailblazing judge – who has professed her “commitment to human rights” – initially agreed to host an event for the celebration at Government House next week. She then backtracked,telling organisers she’d be off in Victoria,with hosting duties now shunted down to her deputy official secretaryChristopher Sullivan.
Government House did not answer CBD’s questions but instead sent a link to posts on the governor’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts celebrating the start of WorldPride,and flagging her presence at a number of related events in the coming days.
Which leaves us all the more befuddled by her trip to Melbourne.
Beazley and her barrister husbandDennis Wilson have previously expressed disgruntlement at the frequent noise from that have the temerity to sail near their taxpayer-funded Gothic revival mansion.
For those residents who like their inner-city quiet,maybe a brief Melbourne trip is a necessary act of self-preservation as thousands of revellers descend on the Harbour City.
Booked in
As an MP,Andrew Laming had plenty to say,particularly on Facebook where his love for a bit of online argy-bargy didn’t always go down too well with the Prime Minister’s Office.
Now retired from politics and liberated from the shackles of the party room,the former Queensland LNP member has poured that energy into writing a new book on everyone’s favourite topic:the Morrison government’s handling of the pandemic.
Released next month,Political COVID:How Australia’s leadership played the pandemicpromises Lamo’s unvarnished views on how the country needed to be guided by science “rather than by fear or political self-preservation”.
Andrew Laming taps away.John Shakespeare
That said,we’re most excited by the book’s final chapter,titled “Gender hysteria:the fall of Morrison”. Whatever does Lamo mean?
Well,one person who might know isBarnaby Joyce’s partner and writer of turgid op-edsVikki Campion,who’s already given the book a rave review.
“It reminds us of a career ripped away by a jihad based on falsehoods,and leaves readers begging the question why this man isn’t still in parliament,” Campion wrote.
The “jihad” in question refers to allegations made in a Nine News report he alleged portrayed him as “lecherous” and a “pervert”. Defamation proceedings later culminated in an apology and confidential settlement from the broadcaster.
Laming has since flirted with the idea of a political return in Queensland,and we’re sure a book-length rant would be a handy little launching pad.
Spilt milk
It was only a matter of time before grocery delivery start-up Milkrun,bleeding money across the handful of inner-city suburbs where it operates,would have to embrace the bleak new reality of the tech industry and start cutting jobs.
On Wednesday,chief executiveDany Milham announced the inevitable “tough decision” to make 20 per cent of Milkrun’s staff redundant. On Friday,the company put up a generous bar tab for staff at the Clock hotel in Surry Hills.
This is tech after all,where those fortunate enough to remain employed still expect a certain degree of largesse – free lunches,bottomless open bars,an array of perks generous enough to make a public servant cry.
A Milkrun spokesperson told us last Friday wasn’t a specific celebration,but the kind of session held at the end of every week.
It was,the company said,“an important opportunity to support each other and farewell departing team members” and “one of many employee forums held last week”.
“As Dany outlined in his email to employees last Wednesday,he and the team are very focused on supporting impacted team members and continuing to build a strong team,” the spokesperson said.
We hope those departing team members got to guzzle their body weight in consolation champagne.
Kean for Canberra?
NSW TreasurerMatt Kean is a busy boy. As CBD on Monday,he’s hosting a series of big-ticket fundraisers that the Liberals hope will get the old money flowing into their election war chest.
But it’s a more humble affair at the local RSL in Kean’s electorate of Hornsby that’s gotten people chattering,thanks in no small part to the presence of federal Liberal leaderPeter Dutton as guest of honour.
Recently departed 2GB drive hostJim Wilson has MC duty,but his attendance is a mere afterthought to disseminators of political scuttlebutt.
The event with Dutton has only further fuelled long-held speculation within the Liberal ranks that Kean sees himself as destined for a grander stage than Macquarie Street’s bearpit and is eyeing a future in federal politics as the next member for Bradfield,a seat held by shadow science ministerPaul Fletcher.
The treasurer wouldn’t indulge said speculation,telling this masthead:“I invited Mr Dutton as we both share a deep commitment to Liberal values including opportunity for all and helping build a brighter future.”
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