Tips and rumours: Eric Abetz doesn't like the new cabinet

From the Crikey grapevine, the latest tips and rumours …

Eric Abetz is not happy. It was all smiles at Government House this morning as the new ministry was sworn in, but there’s always one negative Nelly around to spoil the party. After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced his new ministry yesterday, Senator Eric Abetz, self-appointed leader of the conservative wing of the Liberal party, bemoaned the lack of Tasmanians in the ministry or cabinet in a press release:

“The Ministry is appointed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister.

“While it is disappointing that there will be no Tasmanian Minister, the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team will continue to be vocal representatives within the government to deliver for our state.

“We as a team have a strong track record of delivery in advancing Tasmania’s interests and we will continue to build on that.

“All members of the team have strong relationships within the Government which we will use to leverage the best possible outcomes for Tasmania.

“Our primary focus will be working with new Ministers to ensure the timely delivery of our election commitments.”

It’s almost as if Abetz realises there is value in having people from diverse backgrounds in senior positions in government, and that that kind of representation makes a difference for the people who share those backgrounds, like women, or LGBTI people. If Abetz really wanted to do something about the number of Tasmanians in the Ministry, we have a few hints. Up until yesterday, Tasmania did have a representative in the ministry, Richard Colbeck, who was Tourism and International Education Minister. But after he was demoted to the unwinnable fifth position on the Liberals’ Senate order his career hangs in the balance, despite a campaign for people to vote for him below the line. Colbeck won 7365 first preference votes below the line, compared to top of the ticket Abetz, who gained 4847 votes.

Say hello to your new Minister for the Cybers. In among Turnbull’s new ministry yesterday, up-and-comer MP Dan Tehan has been given the job of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security, as per the recommendations of the cyber white paper released earlier this year. Tehan — who is also the Minister for Veterans Aaffairs and Defence Personnel — being appointed as the first ever minister for cybers is an interesting reward, given his former role as the chair of the powerful Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security. Under Tehan’s chairmanship, the committee waved through mandatory data retention in the last Parliament, and Tehan often commented endorsing the government’s national security policy despite his role in ensuring the adequacy of the legislation brought before the committee.

Uber, but for court appearances. Before the New South Wales government went and legalised ride-sharing service Uber in the state, one rogue man Russell Howarth, a hire car driver, took it upon himself to conduct citizen arrests on UberX drivers operating their services illegally in the state. In July 2015, Uber got an injunction against Howarth to prevent him conducting citizen arrests. Despite the change in NSW rules, the case is still ongoing. In a judgment last week, the NSW Supreme Court found that much of Howarth’s cross-claims no longer apply, and there are now “serious difficulties” with Howarth’s standing because he is “an undischarged bankrupt”. This is what Fairfax reported was related to a traffic incident outside the Ivy nightclub in Sydney several years ago.

Howarth was not there for the judgment last week. Justice Francois Kunc noted that the court waited a full hour for Howarth to arrive, and eventually he appeared in court over the mobile phone of one of his associates. Howarth told the court he was “very unwell” and would be likely going to hospital:

“The origins of his physical difficulties seem to be what he said was an assault which he suffered on Sunday night. He described his difficulties as ‘ongoing’, the significance of which I did not quite understand.”

The court rejected Howarth’s motion to send the case to mediation, and a fixed hearing date will be set this week, with Howarth also now saddled with paying some of Uber’s court costs. The New South Wales government is compensating taxi drivers $98 million for their licences — $20,000 per licence — funded by a $1 surcharge on ride share and taxi fares.

Derryn Hinch about town. New Senator Derryn Hinch hasn’t wasted any time since being elected, telling his former 3AW colleague Neil Mitchell that he has already spoken to Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison, George Brandis and opposition leader Bill Shorten in the last two weeks. Hinch told Mitchell he wasn’t sure when he would start getting paid, and believes that he will probably end up with a three year term, even though he will fight for a six year term. Although he has spoken to Turnbull on the phone, Hinch said that he hasn’t seen Turnbull in person in 15 years.

Hinch wouldn’t reveal much about his conversations with Turnbull and Shorten, but said that he hadn’t been offered any deals on legislation and he hadn’t asked for any deals. “I don’t want to horse trade.”

“I campaigned on seven issues, and I’ll talk about them until the cows come home, but all the other things , like the ABCC, and pensions and super, I haven’t got there yet. I rely on what you do too, on The Australian, The Age, the Herald Sun and Channel Seven or Channel Nine news.”

Scott Morrison has offered Hinch sessions with Treasury to discuss money matters, while Attorney-General George Brandis has offered sessions with members of his department when it comes to Hinch’s own agenda. The former broadcaster said that he has been in conversations with Jacqui Lambie and believes that he will find common ground with her, but has not spoken to Pauline Hanson. While Hanson is making more headlines, it looks like the Human Headline will make more legislation.

A message from Gotham City. While it’s not unusual for politicians to spend time thanking their electorate after getting their spot in Canberra, Labor’s David Feeney has taken the next step, commissioning a billboard in his Melbourne electorate of Batman. We’re not sure of the exact location of the billboard, but hope it’s north of Bell Street — the point in the electorate where booths turn from Green wins to Labor wins.