George Brandis’ gay nightclub dance moves score 11/10 – The Age

PART TWO WITH JOSH

The federal Treasurer’s Project Josh to connect with as many people via as many different platforms continues with episode two of his monthly podcast from LiSTNR, part of Southern Cross Austereo radio empire, released just one week after episode one.

The podcast – sorry, The Josh Frydenberg Podcast™ – is billed as an intimate discussion with the “true Josh Frydenberg – devoted father and the everyday man behind the suit”.

After last week’s origin story, Frydenberg is releasing his difficult second album today with a chat with former Australian of the Year and mental health campaigner Patrick McGorry.

Admirable. And you’ve got to hand it to McGorry who knows how to mount a case to the guy who holds the federal government’s purse strings. When host Sarah Grynberg asked McGorry where government spending on mental health needs to go, the mental health expert emphasised value for money. Three-quarters of mental health issues first emerge in individuals under the age of 25, he said, so a strong system of care for that age group would “save an awful lot of money” McGorry said. He referred to how “Josh has commissioned the Productivity Commission Report, he’s seen the results, the return on investment is going to be good.” No need to ask if the Treasurer was listening.

McGorry encouraged parents to move away from screens in favour of board games, books and the radio. Salient advice for the Treasurer. “There has certainly been more screen-time in our home, Bluey and Peppa Pig,” the Treasurer said. “Thank God for ABC Kids.” A rare government endorsement for ABC managing director David Anderson to clutch as he faces yet another torrid Senate Estimates session in a couple of weeks.

HOME FRONT

Perhaps we shouldn’t be too tough on the Treasurer, who is facing more downtime than usual after a member of his team tested positive to COVID after contracting it outside the office. All team members, including the Treasurer, have since returned negative results but are forced into two weeks of isolation away from their families.

Fresh from his nights holed up with Prime Minister Scott Morrison watching episodes of Yes, Minister in the Lodge in Canberra, the Treasurer – a father of two – has moved into a friend’s home in his Kooyong street with his political adviser and his choice for Senate preselection Simon Frost – a father of four – and another team member who has a newborn. No word yet on microwave meals or whether they have switched to watching ‘Allo ’Allo, but the Treasurer was forced to use an ironing board as a standing desk on a Thursday morning media call. Needs must.

It’s almost four years since Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club fired the start gun on the first Everest event – and a major salvo in state racing relations – by scheduling a slew of big-ticket races to coincide with key Victorian race days, including the $7.5 million Golden Eagle which is scheduled to clash with Flemington’s hallowed monochrome spring carnival opener of Derby Day. Those efforts triggered the then VRC chair Amanda Elliott into blasting Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys as a “silly little man making silly decisions” . She later apologised.

This week the one-upmanship continued with NSW Racing Minister Kevin Anderson hinting he could boost spectators. “This is the Formula One of the equine industry, where the big ones warm up and have a crack,” he said. Over to you, Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula.