Perrett ‘committed’ to Labor cause … for now. So will Labor MP Graham Perrett follow through on his threat to quit the party — and destabilise its hold on power further — if Julia Gillard is rolled on Monday? We’ve been reporting whispers from Perrett’s camp that he’d already given up on Labor — and alternatively that he was talking to Rudd about a promotion under his leadership. Neither is true, Perrett’s spokesperson assured us yesterday, insisting the MP was “not giving up on Moreton”.

He rubbished suggestions Perrett wasn’t attending branch meetings — he went to one as recently as Monday — and that the “last thing he is going to do is help Tony Abbott and the Liberals take government”. And if there’s a new leader on Monday? “He would consider his position.” No doubt.

Libs: Labor ‘half-way to nowhere’. The Liberal Party reckons there’s a buck to be made in Labor’s leadership showdown. This email appeared in the inboxes of people signed up for party updates around 7.30 last night …

PM wanted: you’ll report to Alan Jones. It’s been done before, it had to be done again …

Malcolm Turnbull on Team Rudd! And from the grassy knoll, a contender for the most bizarre anonymous tip of the week: “Rudd’s team is trying to do a deal with Malcolm Turnbull to return to Labor as treasurer with Rudd as PM. The idea is that Rudd can still travel the world as PM and statesman interlocutor between US and China, G20, etc, and Turnbull runs Australia as treasurer and capable financial whiz. And next in line.” You read it here first.

The Labor candidate who’s left town. Meanwhile in Queensland, Anna Bligh has had trouble of her own with Labor candidates running for parliament. There was the racist and homophobic teenager now dumped as a candidate for Southern Downs, and north of Brisbane in Glass House there’s the candidate that doesn’t live in his electorate — or indeed the state. We’ve confirmed Ryan Moore, another party young gun, took up a Victorian university offer and shifted to Melbourne with his partner a few weeks before the election was called. He grew up in the area, and has been doing some campaigning there, but with little chance of victory (the Liberal-National Party’s Andrew Powell holds the seat by almost 6%) it seems there wasn’t much point sticking around.

Age editors’ PA shifted to projects. Staff at The Age were surprised to learn the highly regarded Anna Marulli, who managed the offices of editors Paul Ramadge and Mark Baker, has been promoted to a new national administration role. Here’s the internal announcement:

Anna Marulli will move to the new role Administration Co-ordinator (National), reporting to The Age Business Editor (Mark Hawthorne), Managing Editor — National (Mark Baker) and Managing Editor — Business (Sean Aylmer). Anna will commence her new role on Monday March 5.

In recognition of the increased demand from the Newsroom, for administration support, we’ve identified the need to expand the role of the Editorial News Manager to include Special Projects for Editorial Management (e.g. award submissions, reports and staff presentations).

To accommodate the additional tasks, this role will now be shared by Laura Hamilton (4 shifts per week) and Justine Mansell (3 shifts per week) who will transfer from Business.

In addition to supporting Newsroom staff with travel and accommodation, newsroom rosters, Laura and Justine will also be jointly responsible for the Newsroom Assistants, who will now all report to both.

Both Laura and Justine have the personal and technical skills to successfully expand this role to meet the ever-changing needs of our Newsroom.

They will commence their joint role on Monday March 5.

Paul Ramadge will announce the appointment of an Executive Assistant, shortly.

Racing legend an Australian treasure? From the 3AW Rumour File: “Don says Sir Jack Brabham is about to be named by the National Trust as one of the 100 national living treasures.”