Breaking New Idea’s VERY expensive mistake. Plus, star reporter blows up at offensive rumour about her husband and who broke the golden rule of Peter and Lisa’s election party? INSIDE MAIL EnglishHeadline

Leftie Christmas on the decrease north shore

Overlook profitable a seat in parliament – the most important prize on election day was profitable a seat in Peter FitzSimons and Lisa Wilkinson‘s lounge room because the reside vote depend bought underway.

The media energy couple opened their sprawling six-bedroom mansion to a star-studded number of worldwide identities – from acclaimed writers and tv stars, to Hollywood actors and superstar cooks – as they adopted all of the thrills and spills of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s landslide victory.

Inside Mail can reveal the heavy hitters who converged on Sydney‘s decrease north shore for the soirée included Golden Globe-winning actress Rachel Griffiths; political commentator David Marr; breakfast radio host Amanda Keller, superstar silk Sue Chrysanthou; Blanche D’Alpuget, the biographer-turned-mistress-turned-wife of the late ex-PM Bob Hawke; Man Booker prize nominee Steve Toltz; novelist Geraldine Brookes; Kelly Sloan, the chair of Vacation spot NSW; Georgie Dent, the CEO of oldsters’ advocacy group The Parenthood; and one-time The Chaser-comedian-turned-ABC-radio-host Craig Reucassel.

That was a mouthful. And that is not the half of the visitor listing – we simply could not match any extra names in that sentence.

Certainly, there have been so many A-listers at FitzSimons and Wilkinson’s ballot-box bash they could not match them multi functional room; they usually needed to unfold their venerable company throughout a number of rooms because the election broadcast performed out throughout two huge TVs.

It is no shock to be taught invitees had been glued to the ABC’s protection in one of many lounges, together with The Mentalist star Simon Baker who’s ‘tremendous into his politics’ and was significantly engrossed in ousted Opposition chief Peter Dutton‘s failed bid to retain his Brisbane seat of Dickson from former journo Ali France.

Nonetheless, insiders tells us they had been stunned to see Channel 9’s election protection on the large display within the different room, given Wilkinson’s acrimonious exit from the community in 2017 amid a pay disparity dispute together with her At present present co-host Karl Stefanovic (who was in Brisbane masking Dutton’s sombre election night time occasion).

(Worry not … we hear that TV was converted to the general public broadcaster because the night time wore on, too).

Sources inform us the glitzy night was vaguely paying homage to the couple’s well-known annual Australia Day events – a practice they nixed in 2023 out of political correctness – and which, as everybody is aware of, concerned all company being invited to ‘carry a plate’ of meals.

And this bash was no totally different. We hear the communal buffet laid out on the duo’s elegant eating desk on the weekend included every part from plates of humble occasion pies to an outsized pavlova, with an eye-watering leg of lamb the smorgasbord’s star attraction.

FitzSimons’ longtime buddy, former radio co-host Mike Carlton and his ABC Overseas Correspondent exec producer spouse Morag Ramsay additionally introduced ‘a scrumptious sponge cake of their very own creation’. Osher Günsberg, who has loads of time on his palms in any case his Channel 10 exhibits had been chopped final 12 months, rocked up with a ‘incredible sizzling curry’. And one-time Sunday Evening reporter-turned-ABC producer Rahni Sadler stored issues cool and informal with a prawn salad.

Naturally, all eyes had been on what famend British superstar chef Nigella Lawson, who’s in Sydney to host three specifically curated dinners for the Vivid competition subsequent month, would whip up for the event.

And whereas she was a bit hamstrung by the actual fact she does not have a kitchen to cook dinner in whereas within the Harbour Metropolis, she actually did not disappoint after arriving with a bulk supply of pricy French bubbly. Viva la Nigella!

It actually did not go to waste. Whereas FitzSimons famously gave up booze – and someway sugar as properly – years in the past, we hear others had been more than pleased to indulge all through the night time.

In a shocking twist midway via the night, there was completely no jeering as Dutton gave his concession speech reside on TV about 9.30pm, with even the Liberal occasion chief’s harshest critics acknowledging it was a masterclass in grace.

‘There was no booing, everybody stopped and listened to his speech, and thought that he was actually respectful and applauded his feedback,’ one visitor tells us.

‘Then all of us type of checked out one another and our consideration turned to Albo – and the way a lot he was going to win by.

‘It was a really heat night time with like-minded (largely) lefties.’

Aboriginal activist Thomas Mayo, one of many architects of the failed Voice to Parliament, was additionally current – and took trip from the festivities to assert Labor’s thumping win was a victory for Indigenous recognition on social media.

‘Tonight, Australia voted No to ignorance & Sure to Acknowledgement; No to xenophobia & Sure to Welcomes; No to regression & Sure to progress,’ he wrote on X from FitzSimons and Wilkinson’s dwelling.

Seven’s axed Friday night time funnyman Mark Humphries was additionally there… having hosted Fitzy on his new ABC weekend radio present Weekend Evenings simply final month.

After all, because the night time wore on, we hear there have been loads of media battle tales being traded at more and more loud volumes and with more and more amusing particulars.

Phrase is the 2 Peters – former Sydney Morning Herald editor-in-chief Peter Fray and tv information god Peter Meakin – had been rivalling the Two Ronnies by proving themselves to be among the many hottest raconteurs, which is hardly shocking.

With so many yarns floating about, it is little marvel the occasion was nonetheless pumping into the wee hours of the morning.

Killing season at Labor

Although it is all celebrations publicly over at Labor HQ, a brouhaha is breaking out inside the new-look parliamentary occasion because the factional left and proper go to battle divvying up the spoils of victory.

The left faction surged, choosing up extra seats than the appropriate, permitting it to impose its energy over the historically dominant proper wing. The left faction is now coming after senior figures in the appropriate as cupboard positions are being decided.

The PM does not get to choose his frontbenchers – the factions do. However the reality Anthony Albanese can be the most important left-wing factional gorilla within the room means the ability of the left is even better.

Senior right-wing ministers reminiscent of Ed Husic, Jason Clare and Chris Bowen are susceptible to demotion if the left will get its manner.

It is already been determined that outgoing senior right-wing determine Invoice Shorten‘s cupboard place can be crammed by somebody from the left and there could also be extra.

Former head of the commerce union motion Ged Kearney will rise into the ministry alongside different left-wing operatives such because the PM’s assistant minister Patrick Gorman.

Former proper wing Labor PMs, reminiscent of Paul Keating, are aghast on the anticipated shift to the left Labor is now more likely to make because it takes management of the Senate at the side of a Greens stability of energy.

‘It is over, the Labor Get together will not be what it was once’, one senior factional determine within the Labor proper tells Inside Mail.

‘The financial reforming legacy of Bob [Hawke] and Paul [Keating] will turn out to be a extra distant reminiscence than it already is.’

‘Identify one severe financial reform we did in Albo’s first time period?’ provides the disgruntled Labor determine.

Even inside the appropriate, divisions are beginning to floor as ministers manoeuvre to outlive. Deputy PM Richard Marles is reportedly pushing to take cupboard positions off the NSW factional proper to shore up his Victorian energy base because the left begins to run excessive of the once-dominant proper.

‘We’re consuming our personal moderately than banding collectively to carry off the left that at all times bought greater than it ought to have when it was only a pimple on the occasion and we ran the present,’ one other right-wing MP tells me.

‘They do not care; it is traditional onerous left bullying’, the MP provides.

Whereas it is going to be all smiles when Albo lastly proclaims his new-look ministry, behind the scenes these more likely to miss out or get demoted are seething, vowing to battle again ‘nonetheless we’ve got to’.

It isn’t simply the appropriate susceptible to being shut out by the PM and his senate sidekick Penny Wong. The left’s personal Tanya Plibersek is about to cop one other demotion after Albo dumped her from her beloved schooling portfolio to setting after the 2022 election win.

Plibersek, the PM’s ‘frenemy primary’, is susceptible to dropping her cupboard spot, though Labor sources inform me she’ll grasp on for pure optics, ‘and simply get pushed into the worst and most irrelevant portfolio Anthony can discover’.

They do say that what occurs behind the scenes in politics is like watching sausages get made. And the chaos inside the ranks of Labor is nothing in comparison with the shenanigans occurring because the hapless Liberals attempt to work out who will get the poisoned chalice of being the following chief of what is left of the parliamentary occasion.

Nonetheless, the anger and resentment inside Labor will reverberate for months, if not years.

In the meantime, anticipate shockwaves as coverage adjustments are introduced by an emboldened ALP dominated by MPs and senators who, again of their uni days, believed Australia needed to turn out to be a socialist panacea modelled on the type of excesses Gough Whitlam by no means bought the prospect to enact as a result of he solely survived as PM for 3 years.

With mates like these… 

Anthony Albanese took the chance at his first media convention after his thumping election win to thank the various world leaders who had reached out to him since his victory.

A type of was the Singaporean PM, whom he additionally congratulated for his election win on the exact same night time.

As resounding as Labor’s win was, it was nothing in comparison with the one Singapore‘s Individuals’s Motion Get together had, securing 83 out of the 93 seats on supply.

Whereas that is nothing in comparison with the best way WA Labor likes to win within the one-party state the west has turn out to be in current instances, it is really a more in-depth outcome than you normally see in Singapore.

That is as a result of it is not really a real democracy. The opposition has limits positioned on its capability to marketing campaign, and the ruling occasion has by no means misplaced!

Maybe Albo does not realise Singapore is not a democracy like we’re. Or possibly he has plans to make use of his newfound energy to emulate the success of the PAP in Singapore.

Both manner, it is just a little uncommon for a democratic western chief to congratulate a non-democratic chief on an election win, simply because they fake to be a real democracy and maintain stacked elections.

Putin does not head to the polls once more till 5 years from now. He received final 12 months’s fraudulent Russian election with 88.5 per cent of the vote. After the dimensions of Albo’s win he might properly nonetheless be round then to congratulate the Kremlin on one other historic victory.

Straightforward experience at first presser 

Talking of Albo’s first presser since his victory, are you able to guess what the primary phrase uttered by the assembled media was when the PM waved via his first query?

‘Congratulations.’

Not precisely a swift return to holding the newly elected authorities to account!

We cannot go too onerous on the gesture, because it was delivered by the Australian Monetary Assessment’s Phil Coorey, probably the greatest within the enterprise in Canberra.

Let’s simply hope the function of the Fourth Property is a bit more strong going ahead, as a result of with the opposition crippled by the election end result, it is capability to carry Labor to account in its second time period might be severely restricted.

Jessica blasts ‘codswallop’ hearsay about her husband

Now, as everybody is aware of, Inside Mail has a nasty behavior of spoiling the occasion… which is shocking as a result of we do not are likely to get invited to all that many.

Certainly, simply final week we spoiled former 7News reporter Joel Dry‘s homecoming occasion after revealing 9 was about to announce the community had signed him to co-host its 6pm Brisbane bulletin alongside Melissa Downes. 

We additionally revealed not everybody (or, actually, hardly anybody) was happy with the ‘captain’s name’ made by 9 Information Queensland boss Brendan Hockings to parachute Dry in to exchange veteran newsman Andrew Lofthouse, who retired as a result of sick well being in January.

Many thought it was tough that community stalwart Josh Bavas had been missed for the gig – and that is placing it politely.

Now, if the newsroom insiders we spoke to had been unimpressed by the appointment… they had been even much less impressed by the point Brisbane’s sleepy hometown newssheet the Courier-Mail belatedly bought onto the story later within the day.

‘Brendan Hockings has misplaced the plot,’ one supply informed the Courier-Mail after the paper lastly stumbled throughout the event.

‘For him to do that to a newsroom that is already divided is completely loopy. Persons are enraged. 

‘Texts began flying at 6am’ – presumably when folks learn concerning the appointment in Inside Mail – ‘and have not stopped.’

The Courier-Mail then dialled up the drama by boldly claiming Bavas and Gold Coast anchor Paul Taylor can be ‘searching for a brand new job within the subsequent few days’ and that ‘4 or 5 reporters would go to Seven tomorrow if the decision got here’.

Discuss going from zero to 100 and ten… 

That each one appears a bit too melodramatic for us – however there is real drama brewing over at 4BC.

Now, we would inform you there are a couple of presenters on the 9 Radio station’s Cannon Hill studios who’re greater than just a little involved Dry’s spouse, 9 Information Europe correspondent and former Brisbane reporter Jess Millward, might be tapped to take over one of many outlet’s exhibits when she returns to the River Metropolis in August. 

However we can’t – as a result of apparently we’re not allowed to check with Millward as being Dry’s spouse – and neither is anybody else!

The one-time At present present reporter took to social media to criticise the Courier-Mail for calling her simply that after information broke concerning the inner backlash to her husband’s appoint.

‘”Joel Dry’s spouse” or in any other case often called Jess Millward and a reporter in her personal proper,’ she fumed on Fb whereas blasting the paper’s protection.

‘Cease it. You are giving journalists who worth reality a foul identify.’

And he or she wasn’t carried out but. 

When a Fb consumer by the identify of Barry Codswallop accused Millward of ‘badgering’ Hockings to nominate her hubby as 9’s Brisbane anchorman in a separate put up, Millward went on to dismiss that hearsay as, properly, codswallop. 

‘Do not consider every part you learn Barry – that may be my recommendation,’ she snapped.

Heck, even her dad, Tim Millward, bought caught in, including: ‘Barry, that is actually simply an ill-informed and dumb factor to say. Attempt to be good than that. If attainable, simply strive.’

No Concept about contempt of courtroom? 

In case you’ve got been dwelling underneath a rock, there is a large information story occurring in the meanwhile involving a controversial dish. And no, we’re not speaking about Nagi vs Brooki.

The trial of Leongatha mushroom chef Erin Patterson is ongoing at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Courtroom.

Patterson is accused of murdering her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson by feeding them a beef wellington poisoned with demise cap mushrooms. She has pleaded not responsible.

With high-profile circumstances like this in Victoria, it’s normal data you restrict your reporting to what’s being heard in courtroom, lest you prejudice proceedings.

Which is why the brains belief in at  journal writer Are Media discovered themselves scrambling after realising final week’s version of New Concept had gone to the printers that includes a narrative about Patterson that basically should not have been there.

We cannot repeat their clanger by detailing what was within the journal’s ‘particular report’.

However we will affirm the authorized snafu noticed all copies of the troublesome version stripped from grocery store cabinets within the backyard state – fairly the pricey error.

Are Media’s high brass had been usually tight-lipped when requested concerning the New Concept subject, saying solely that ‘the 5 Could 2025 version of New Concept (on sale from 28 April) was unavailable in Victoria as a result of authorized restrictions’.

Aunty’s drunk once more

There was a transparent winner in Saturday night time’s election protection – a minimum of for those who’re wanting on the scores.

The ABC drew an incredible 2,364,000 viewers, trouncing the competitors. Nonetheless, not every part concerning the broadcast was, er, wonderful.

Or ought to that be Amazon?

As thousands and thousands tune in to observe the reside vote depend, the ABC suffered embarrassing tech glitches as tallier-in-chief Antony Inexperienced was left to analyse knowledge from the Australian Electoral Fee’s web site whereas standing in entrance of a clean display.

With no knowledge and no updates to the numbers – at all times the strongest a part of the general public broadcaster’s protection – the panel of specialists was left to choose up the commentary.

Viewers had been fast to share their sympathies with Antony the numbers man on what was his swansong as an election-night analyst.

‘Cease making Antony Inexperienced stand in entrance of a busted display! He deserves higher than that,’ one viewer pleaded on X, suggesting the glitch was sabotage.

One idea doing the rounds at Ultimo was was that ABC’s bean counters hadn’t paid for sufficient space for storing on Amazon’s servers, therefore the ‘f***-up’.

That is a actually a brand new one, we thought. So we bought in contact with Aunty to test it out. 

‘Confirming that’s full nonsense,’ we had been informed. Glad to clear it up.

Always remember your shorthand 

After all, it wasn’t simply the general public broadcaster’s election night time panel bemoaning an inconvenient tech glitch because the votes flowed in on Saturday night time.

Numerous journalists masking the federal election in newsrooms throughout the nation endured a heart-stopping second after the digital reporter’s biggest ally, tv captioning web site TVeeder, went down.

The web service, which gives a reside feed of captions for the entire main TV channels, was overwhelmed barely after 8pm, about an hour after all of the networks began their devoted election protection.

Cue reporters dusting off their notebooks and attempting to recollect their Teeline shorthand classes.

Fortuitously, it was again up and working about 20 minutes later – to the reduction of all hacks rostered on for the night time shift.

The compulsory self high-five 

Now… talking of the election protection, each media outlet within the nation loves boasting about who was first to name the election.

And we are not any exception. For the document, it was us.

Postal votes reduce brief teals’ victory lap

Two teals could not assist themselves on election night time, claiming victory earlier than the full-time siren was sounded on votes being counted.

The one downside was that with postal votes favouring their Liberal challengers, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan seemed a bit like George W. Bush declaring victory in the course of the battle in Iraq.

Daniel was ultimately bested by Tim Wilson within the inner-Melbourne seat of Goldstein. Kooyong is not finalised but however Ryan will little question nonetheless be sweating.

Whoever wins, it has been humorous to observe the sanctimonious teals declare victory too quickly and thus be pressured to replicate on their very own hubris. 

Election schadenfreude

‘Will Greens chief Adam Bandt lose his seat?’ That was the query we had been asking all week. Yesterday afternoon, we lastly bought a solution: Sure.

Earlier than his loss to Labor candidate Sarah Witty was referred to as by a number of media shops on Wednesday, one senior Liberal MP, little question shattered by the loss on Saturday night time, did ring to inform us: ‘As unhealthy as what occurred to us is, I can reside with it just a little higher if that pair [Bandt and Ryan] additionally loses.’

It isn’t fairly a case of the enemy of my enemy is my buddy – a saying believed to have originated in historical Indian political philosophy, particularly from the Sanskrit textual content Arthashastra – but it surely’s shut sufficient.

Liberals the Coalition weak hyperlink 

The Nationals have to be taking a look at their Coalition companions questioning why they cannot do higher given how properly the country-based minor occasion has carried out at consecutive dropping elections.

In 2022, when the Coalition misplaced 19 seats, the Nats did not lose a single one among them. This time round they’ve solely misplaced one, and may really offset it by profitable one other one off Labor, regardless of a massacre for the Liberals who look set to lose a minimum of 13 extra and are behind in one other of others nonetheless too near name.

That is solely going to provide the Nats better say within the mixed occasion room and across the shadow cupboard desk, which could promote insurance policies extra beneficial to folks dwelling within the bush than within the cities.

This might be a significant downside for the Coalition’s probabilities of returning to energy anytime quickly, as a result of whereas the Nats have carried out properly hanging onto their seats, there actually aren’t many extra they will goal to develop a lot additional.

The opposition have to win seats within the cities, and that is the job of Liberals, who’re a dying breed within the parliament.

Aunty’s recommendation: ‘Simply gown higher’ 

Now everyone knows the ABC likes to cry poor – and who can actually blame them? They solely get given a paltry $1.2billion from taxpayers every year.

And the general public broadcaster has large editorial obligations. Per the ABC Constitution, the channel has to ‘[air] applications that contribute to a way of nationwide id and inform and entertain, and replicate the cultural variety of, the Australian neighborhood.’

We’re an enormous nation, and that is an enormous job.

Which is why we had been left scratching our heads when the ABC devoted at least 4 reporters – Maddy Morwood, Dannielle Maguire, Mawunyo Gbogbo and Jared Richards – to masking the Met Gala in New York Metropolis this week. 

For the uninitiated, the Met Gala is outwardly an enormous style present within the Huge Apple. 

Now we’re not saying they did not present first rate protection. In any case, they had been ‘onerous at work chronicling each look this 12 months on the Met Gala’, cataloguing ‘the Australian stars on the pink carpet’ and, critically, revealing ‘who performed it protected’ (we can’t spoil the shock).

There was additionally loads of sassy recommendation on supply, together with this gem: ‘Within the phrases of Anna Wintour: “If you cannot be higher than your competitors, simply gown higher.”‘

Phrases to reside by, we’re certain. 

We’re simply not fairly sure which a part of this ‘contributes to a way of nationwide id and informs and entertains, and displays the cultural variety of, the Australian neighborhood.’

However hey, a minimum of we’re not paying for this information service… oh wait, we’re.

• Extra reporting by Jo Scrimshire