Given the ABC\u2019s years of indifference to anyone under the age of 60, CBD hopes the government goes for younger blood. And while that\u2019s a view even Ita seems to share, the names in the mix thus far look just a little pale, male and stale.<\/p>\n
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Former NIne CEO Hugh Marks.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>James Brickwood<\/cite><\/p>\n As this masthead has reported, Gilbert + Tobin law firm founder Danny Gilbert<\/strong>, a key backer of the Yes campaign, looks an early frontrunner. Also in the mix is former News Corp Australia chief executive Kim Williams<\/strong>, famed for a spectacular falling out with Lachlan Murdoch<\/strong>, and being the late Gough Whitlam<\/strong>\u2019s son-in-law.<\/p>\n Both were part of the (all-male) shortlist, along with former Fairfax boss Greg Hywood<\/strong>, presented to the Morrison government when it was trying to replace Justin Milne<\/strong> in 2019. Those names were ignored when Ita become the captain\u2019s pick.<\/p>\n Another fella whose name has started getting tossed around is former Nine chief executive Hugh Marks<\/strong>, although he was in no mood to entertain CBD\u2019s speculative imaginings when contacted on Monday.<\/p>\n We\u2019re delighted to see former premier Ted Baillieu<\/strong>\u2019s return from injury going from strength to strength, with the Liberal leader lending a hand to wife Robyn Baillieu<\/strong>\u2019s online influencing operation.<\/p>\n Former premier and current ice cream fan Ted Baillieu.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Simon Schluter<\/cite><\/p>\n Robyn has been flexing her considerable culinary skills in front of her Instagram following on behalf of Euro cult kitchen appliance Thermomix, for which she acts as a consultant.<\/p>\n The stand-out effort for us is the video in which Robyn is preparing a smoothie for the former Liberal leader \u2013 something of a smooth political operator in his day \u2013 when the man himself reminds his wife not to be skimping on the ice cream.<\/p>\n All is well in the end though, with Big Ted declaring himself satisfied with the result.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, that\u2019s a smoothie,\u201d he says, and he ought to know.<\/p>\n We gave Baillieu a heads-up on Monday that we were going to write something about this influencing activity. All good, he told us, as long as we buy a Thermomix.<\/p>\n CBD likes to keep readers updated with \u2013 futile \u2013 attempts to launch Sydney horse race the Everest into the same league as our very own Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n Credit: <\/span>Illustration: John Shakespeare<\/cite><\/p>\n This year, the northern upstart, which will be run on Saturday afternoon and is Australia\u2019s richest race, faces an interesting challenge: going head to head with the biggest thing in Australian democracy since, well, last year \u2013 the Voice referendum.<\/p>\n But Racing NSW chief executive and chief Everest booster Peter V\u2019landys<\/b> was displaying all his trademark confidence when CBD came calling on Monday, suggesting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese<\/b> knew what he was doing when he selected the date for the vote.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason they put it on that day is because the prime minister was hoping it was an omen that in 2019 a horse won called Yes Yes Yes,\u201d V\u2019landys said,<\/p>\n But the NRL Commission chair, whose spat with interstate racing authorities over a bunch of things, not least the non-group 1 status of the Everest, is anything but light-hearted, laughed off the notion that Saturday\u2019s big vote might hurt the turnout at Royal Randwick, where he expects a 45,000-strong full house.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have no impact at all, because 2\u00bd million people have already voted and booths open early in the morning \u2026 and I noticed the Electoral Commission was telling people that if they\u2019re going to the Everest, there are going to be booths nearby,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Local Labor MP and Yes campaigner Matt Thistlethwaite,<\/b> who\u2019s a bit of an Everest booster in his own little way, won\u2019t be among the punters at the track, planning instead to spend the day on the hustings in a last-ditch effort to get the Voice over the line.<\/p>\n However, he did have a little more detail for us on those local voting options.<\/p>\n \u201cI am encouraging locals to vote early, vote often, vote \u201cYes\u201d at one of the pre-poll centres in our area before you head to the track on Saturday. If you can\u2019t get to a pre-poll centre, you can vote at Kensington Public School on Doncaster Avenue across the road from the track,\u201d Thistlethwaite told us.<\/p>\n The Senate inquiry into the Albanese government\u2019s blocking of Qatar Airways\u2019 request for extra flights into Australia has provided us with no shortage of entertainment. And it has also shown how public servants were roped into helping the government kiss the Qantas ring.<\/p>\n In responses to questions on notice from the inquiry committee, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet revealed its bureaucrats provided \u201cfactual background on Qantas\u201d to Albanese\u2019s office ahead of a private farewell dinner hosted by outgoing Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce<\/strong> for select politicians in the Parliament House members\u2019 dining room in August.<\/p>\n Albo\u2019s attendance was reportedly brief, and you\u2019d think given his close relationship with Joyce, he wouldn\u2019t need lanyard-toters helping to come up with dot points on the former boss\u2019s career.<\/p>\n The department also worked on a speech Albanese delivered at Qantas\u2019 100th birthday gala dinner in March this year, where Kylie Minogue<\/strong> entertained a star-studded gathering at a Sydney Airport hangar. The department revealed it had sent a draft speech to the Prime Minister\u2019s Office which included this killer line:<\/p>\n \u201cI was the minister responsible for aviation for many years. I learned whenever there\u2019s a crisis, you pick up the phone and Qantas will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n We wouldn\u2019t be in a hurry to admit to that one either.<\/p>\nSMOOTH OPERATOR<\/h3>\n
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RACING FAVOURITE<\/h3>\n
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PHONE A FRIEND<\/h3>\n