Financial independents: More teals’ secret wealthy backers revealed

It wasn’t long ago that Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was derisively known as Mr Harbourside Mansion. But it looks like the harbourside never forgave the party for knifing him, and now Peter Dutton faces an almighty battle to win back the chequebooks of Australia’s fund managers and heiresses.

Gallery bowled out

The Canberra Press Gallery cops its share of undeserved flak. But we think Parliament House’s hacks are fair game for a bit of ribbing after losing the annual cricket match to a team of politicians and staffers, failing once again to retain the Peter Veness memorial trophy (named for a young gallery reporter who died of cancer).

Bob Hawke’s glasses shatter when he was hit during the match between the Prime Minister’s XI and the parliamentary press gallery at Kingston Oval in 1984.Credit:Peter Wells

The pollies’ side comfortably chased down the press’ total of 147 with five overs to spare, thanks in no small part to the efforts of rookie Liberal MP Aaron Violi, who knocked out an unbeaten 50 at the top of the order before retiring.

It was another new MP among the wickets for the parliament side, with LNP member for Bowman Henry Pike finishing with 3-20. For the press, ABC political editor Andrew Probyn top-scored with 34, an innings interrupted when he had to call for a runner after doing his back.

The tradition, which went down at Canberra’s Phillip Oval, lacked the drama of years past – in 1984 prime minister Bob Hawke was felled by a vicious bouncer to the eye. Sunday’s clash, played in good spirit, was fortunately free of any bloodshed.

Jobs for the joys

Labor’s legislation for a federal anti-corruption commission hasn’t yet passed parliament, but the government is already advertising for senior roles, with applications set to close next week. And it’s a cushy gig for those who can get it, with the commissioner paid $728,900 a year, a deputy commissioner $569,470 and a humble $427,120 for the chief executive role.

While it should be reassuring to see a government finally do something about integrity, some in the domestic recruitment game are a little disgruntled the Attorney-General’s department has overlooked them in favour of an international firm to help its search.

The international firm in question is one some readers might remember from the ill-fated John Barilaro affair – NGS Global, which was hired by the NSW government to recruit the lucrative New York-based trade role the former deputy premier briefly managed to land for himself.

Its managing partner Marianne Broadbent, listed as the contact person for the NACC job, appeared before a NSW parliamentary inquiry into that appointment, where she gave evidence about the firm’s role in approving former Business NSW boss Stephen Cartwright for a London-based agent-general role, after he’d been encouraged to apply by Barilaro.

After her ringside seat in that inquiry, and close memory of the Barilaro affair, we’re sure she’d have no trouble finding a candidate well suited to weeding out corruption in Canberra.

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