Lucy
Turnball
The first lady of Australian
politics – and no, we’re not
talkingprivatesecretaryto
thePM,SallyCray.Aswell
as being “delicious” (the
bizarre words of French
PM,EmmanuelMacron)and
asuccessfulwomaninher
ownright,onefamiliarwith
grappling and wrangling
forpower,sheisalsoan
earandopencounselto
thePM–centraltofederal
issuesofmoreapersonal
reflection such as this
year’s so-called ‘bonk ban’.
Matt Canavan
Onetowatch–smart,
articulate and a very
necessary young gun
for the Nats given
they’velostsomany.John Fraser
One of Abbott’s “captain’s
picks”. A well-balanced
man who knows the private
sector well after years as
a banker, prior to advising
on public policy.
Kristina
Keneally
Yes,KK–formerNSW
Premier, onetime TV host
andverymuchapolished
performer. Her smarts
and media savvy lend
Labor certain glamour –
and she was parachuted
into Dastyari’s senate
seat, which the party
wouldn’t do unless it
had major plans. Oh
and did we mention her
sense of ambition?Anthony
Albanese
Hereheis,Albo,aman
on the move. Though,
theshadowminister
for infrastructure is a
loyalist through and
through, he’ll insist – and
firmly. And yet his recent
moves are increasingly
focused around the
party – not Bill Shorten.
A working class kid and
scrapper, it’s a story
that plays well on the
hustings – and Albo’s
long been a man aware
of the power that comes
from those you know
and align yourself with.
Stay tuned.Tony Abbott
Former PM and one
of the most divisive
fi ures in Aussie
politics. He has firm
factional allies – and
he’ll continue to
snipe and make
himself heard
because like Jo ce
his is an eas abilit
to destabilise.
Chris
Uhlmann
Very few were
shortlisted to ill the
rather large boots
left at Nine’s
Canberra bureau
by Laurie Oakes.
Ulhmann, ex ABC,
brings the contact
book, inner-
knowledge and
thoroughness of
the man he replaces,
though his sign off
could do with some
work. Mark Riley,
Waleed Aly and
David Speers can
also create a politicalkerfufle when
needed.Atlassian
Look past the hoodies and lack of ofice footwear –
because these billionaire boys have clout. Co-founder
Scott Farquhar sits on the PM’s National Innovation &
Science board and need we steer past last year’s SA
power crisis? Farquahar’s fellow founder Mike Cannon-
Brookes not only held Elon Musk to account in regard
to scoring a very large Tesla battery for the state – he
was central to the negotiations and funding, and he had
things asewn up and conirmed within a week. Yes, a
week! Sure, money buys power buys inluence, but it’s
what you do with that inluence that counts, and we
have no problem with the platform these boys have
made for themselves.Ray Hadley
Agreed, Hadley in the morning
is harder to swallow than a can
of stale beer that doubled as an
ashtray. But you cannot deny the
Sydneysider – who broadcasts
his robust opinions across NSW,
QLD and southeastern SA – is the
radio jock who rattles most. He’s
surpassed 2GB stablemate Alan
Jones in his ability to shape the
political discourse and embraces
conservative Liberals like no other.