More than six months after the Albanese government was sent into a tailspin triggered by Sports Minister Anika Wells’ questionable use of parliamentary expenses, the scandal continues to cast a shadow.
For the latest piece of evidence, we point you to the one-man Albanese government contingent set to attend the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this month – the football fanatic member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale. He was, of course, unsurprisingly quick to point out the diplomatic “opportunity” that comes with his trip stateside. (Sure!)
“Football Australia is running a corporate and bipartisan parliamentary delegation for the FIFA World Cup, which I will be attending along with a number of my federal Liberal parliamentary colleagues,” Laxale told CBD. “I welcome the opportunity to engage with elected officials from Canada and the US, talk trade across key industries, and of course, support the Socceroos.”
On the other side of the aisle, Laxale will be joined by at least three of his Liberal Party counterparts, including senators Anne Ruston and Richard Colbeck, along with the baby-faced South Australian Liberal MP, Tom Venning. Another name that came across our desk on Thursday, but whose attendance we were unable to confirm, was that of the Liberal Party’s member for Cook, Simon Kennedy, who was also once Laxale’s opponent in Bennelong.
Venning put his attendance down to serendipity, because he and his partner were already going to be in the US for a wedding, which gave him “the chance to catch one game” with his Canberra colleagues. Ruston’s office said the senator would be going but paying for her own flights and accommodation. Colbeck, meanwhile, said he’d also attend as part of the Football Australia delegation. Football Australia didn’t respond to a request for comment.
“This is a significant event and it will be an honour to see the Socceroos represent Australia on the world stage. All travel and accommodation expenses have been personally funded,” Colbeck told CBD.
But, at least as far as we were able to confirm, that’s the lot of them. Wells is scheduled to stay in Australia for State of Origin and other commitments, CBD hears, including sitting week. No surprises there – we’re just glad to see Wells out and about again after repaying $10,000 in travel costs following an audit by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.
Other names floated over the last week or so were also quick to confirm they’d be giving the World Cup a miss.
Resources Minister Madeleine King and Environment Minister Murray Watt have decided to stay home, we’re told, despite receiving Matildas and Socceroos jerseys respectively courtesy of Football Australia this year. Others to declare football-adjacent interests linked with the trip, including Patrick Gorman and Matt Thistlethwaite, will also give it a miss.
While we were doing the rounds, we also thought it prudent to check in with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, whose staff were amused to even be asked the question. It was a flat no.
The One Nation leader is more into motor sport and drag racing, we were told, and doesn’t support any football code. (We expect this will change the day she declares her intentions to run for prime minister, if that day ever comes.)
Qantas gets Albo’s ear
Fortescue founder and executive chairman Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest may have struggled to get a look in with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in April, as CBD brought word on Thursday. But it looks like the prime minister doesn’t make everyone work quite as hard for a slot in his diary.
Well, at least not those on the leadership team at the national carrier. Documents obtained by CBD under freedom of information laws made it look pretty easy for Qantas chairman John Mullen and the airline’s chief executive Vanessa Hudson to get a meeting with Albanese in February. Sure, it was only for half an hour in Canberra. Even then, Mullen and Hudson got in some time ahead of the federal budget.
But we couldn’t help wonder why the prime minister was able to make time for team Qantas and not Forrest. Not to mention what the meeting was about, and how often the PM catches up with the pair. The Prime Minister’s Office, of course, wouldn’t be drawn on any of this. But a spokesman for the PMO did have this to say: “The prime minister meets a range of business leaders regularly.”
Thickins on leave
Joel Thickins, the Australia country head of the private equity giant TPG Capital who regular readers may recall crashed his car last week, has taken some leave while he prepares to front court at the end of the month.
Word is nobody is keeping his seat warm while he’s out, with the firm’s leadership team trying to carry on business as usual, while the co-head of its Asia operation faces charges for allegedly smashing into five cars. TPG declined to comment.
For those playing along at home: Thickins allegedly crashed his BMW into a Mazda before allegedly crashing into another four parked cars on York Road in Queens Park on Monday evening last week. Incredibly, Thickins then allegedly refused a roadside breath test before being arrested and being taken to Paddington police station for a breath analysis, NSW Police told CBD last week. Thickins also allegedly refused the station breathalyser.
Thickins is due to appear before Waverley Local Court on June 30.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
