Liberals
KOOYONG: Frydenberg ducks candidate debate
Kooyong Liberals have been astonished at the approach of preselection front-runner and merchant banker Josh Frydenberg in recent days.
While Frydenberg has been demon-dialling those members he enthusiastically recruited over the past few years in anticipation of the retirement of Petro Georgiou, he has been seeking to minimise his interaction with local Party members he deems to be hostile.
One example of this was a well attended candidates’ forum on the weekend which was an open-ended Q&A style event that enabled those interested in the seat to show their knowledge and demonstrate their ability to deal with public questioning. The moderator of the event was the Baillieu factional operative Tim Wilson.
Frydenberg didn’t attend despite initially agreeing to do so before the invitation was sent to all Party members. He had suspected it was a Baillieu faction stunt to exploit what they see as his weakness in public presentation. Showing the flexibility of a Soviet-bloc gymnast, Frydenberg turned his invitation acceptance into a firm rejection and even filed a complaint with Party director Tony Nutt saying the event was unauthorised and that he had not really intended to accept.
One Kroger faction insider told VEXNEWS “It’s all a bit unfortunate. We expect Frydenberg to win and we’re delighted that Baillieu feels so uncomfortable about it but we’re finding it a bit of a challenge to be enthusiastic about Josh. He should be confronting all opponents in any forum not ducking and covering with small-target games. It’s a shame we can’t start again in Kooyong. This is meant to be a seat that goes to the best Liberal in the state, and that just hasn’t happened if you look at who’s nominated.”
Another observer asserted that Frydenberg even rang around members telling them the event had been cancelled, which was not correct. “What is he afraid of? If he can’t handle a small gathering of party members
Party members say there’s now a great deal of pressure on the merchant banker to impress at the public presentation components of the preselection to be held later this month. “Candidates will need to show they can be Liberal cabinet ministers. If they can’t, they have no business being there,” the worried observer told VEXNEWS.
Discussion
48 comments for “KOOYONG: Frydenberg ducks candidate debate”
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Joshy has no chance. Pesutto is the next Member for Kooyong.
I went and was impressed by the debate. Though I do think it was poor form that Joshua was not there.
Kooyong is the home of Richard Dalla Riva who, according to Vexnews, improperly used police files to spy on his neighbours. If the liberal party wants to remain credible, it must think long and hard about his position.
Tim Wilson leaked this.
Pesutto, the Champ, won the debate easily.
Authorised by Peter McMullin for the Labor Party, 360 King St West Melbourne.
Time to get rid of RDR.
His thing with Byrne was a bridge too far.
Enough of this bent cop.
Time to give him the chop.
I am the “Champ”! The one, the only, Kooyong Tennis Champ!
hahahaha. Pretty funny story Vexnews. I always thought Joshy was a fake. Josh Frydenburg -’self fulfilling prophecy’. Scratch the surface, and he’s got nothing to contribute to the political discourse of this nation.
Tim Wilson, your journalism is getting better, but the whole event was set up for the Persutto camp, for the persutto Camp benefit, by the Persutto camp team.
And this story was ready to go last Friday, so you knew then they were not coming.
Why did you not tell people that they were not coming when you knew for weeks!
Rather disingenuous really.
Byrne Baby Byrne
I am the king of the east
People like RDR the least
Using Andrew Higgs to stack me out was dumb
And now I get to be number one
Wolfman is a supporter of RDR. If he wants to remain credible in this new age of anti-sleaze, he must distance himself from the slop cop asap
John Pesutto would have wiped Joshy off the face of the earth. That’s why Joshy didn’t show up – he’s scared of being exposed for the fraud that he is.
Those who missed Josh because of his no-show at the debate shouldn’t miss him on Youtube…
This [deleted]sucker will never be part of MY party.
I’m just an observer, not a Liberal member, and don’t know all that much.
I have a few questions, if someone could care to enlighten me…
-How ‘Kroger’ is Josh? I’ve been speaking to people who are heavily aligned with that grouping, and they aren’t fans, one even saying they don’t have a horse in the race. It’s as if they have given him scant endorsement because of the convenience, are using his own efforts as a proxy war against the Jeffs in their home turf, and don’t much care for his eventual victory. Yes, no?
-Mr Landeryou is a journalist, and must present all challenges as neck-and-neck in nature for the purpose of excitement. Is this dynamic actually the case in Kooyong? Or is one lording it over the other, considerably? I want numbers, not bullshit.
-Pesutto, is he a bit of a come-out-of-nowhere type? How well regarded was he before his reforms? Does he have a significant connection to the local area, beyond maybe living here?
-I know there are myriad Liberal branches in the area, and outside it. Of the notable ones, which are Josh’s alone, which are Kroger and which are Baillieu? I seem to remember Josh being from Balwyn branch, but beyond that, I don’t know. Where do the numbers come from?
-Will John Roskam ever get a gig? He seems talented enough, though realise that is no pre-requisite. Does he have numbers of his own, or is he “above that” and doesn’t get his hands dirty?
-This whole ‘cabinet member quality’ shtick. Is that quest exaggerated? What exactly are the criteria beyond being an erudite, impressive public speaker?
-Say Pesutto wins. Is he a complete write off for a Costello leadership vote, or could he ever be swung? By the same token, would Frydenberg be that solid? He does have a maverick streak.
Cheers. And like I said, I’m not involved at all, so if something I’ve said is factually irreconcilable, lay off.
[DELETED]
Good questions.
Josh is supported by Krogerites who are interested in getting stuck into Ted Baillieu. They are basically using him. They wouldn’t mind him winning. But they don’t actually care whether he wins. They just hope he causes as much damage on the way.
The reality is that it is a two horse race. Josh has stacks and some long serving Party members supporting him. John has a lot of long serving Party members supporting him. The others will have some support. But not enough to get over Josh and John’s base votes. Even when they are combined.
John has been active in the area for years, and years and years. But he did reach prominence through his involvement through Party reforms. He hasn’t drawn as much attention as Josh because he didn’t challenge Petro Georgiou. He was a Vice Chairman or something before the Party reforms saga. He has always been relatively well respected.
The breakdown of the branches is complex. And even amongst them there are people in both camps in each branch. It really comes down to each delegate. A lot are probably no where.
John Roskam will get a gig when he decides to stand. He shouldn’t have been knocked back for the Senate last time he stood. Instead we have Mitch.
The Cabinet material line is just crap. Both Pesutto and Frydenburg are capable of being Cabinet Ministers. Paul Nettelbeck is also capable of being a Minister.
John is probably not a write off vote for Costello. That divide was a result of Costello versus Howard. Now it is Costello versus Turnbull. He doesn’t have any skin in the game. So it is unclear.
Nettlebeck is NOT my grandson.
It’s funny, you know…
Mr Nockles seems unable to say what he did to help at the last election, instead resorting to personally denigrating people who ask him what he did…
Mr Nockles is finding that his ‘rusted on’ people are being lured away by other candidates…
Mr Nockles might have backed the wrong horse in an earlier race…
Mr Nockles – people seem to have long memories.
If Josh gets up, that’s a real threat to Costello’s ambitions… and others
The Kroger faction should be be careful what they wish for. How shortsighted they are…
More like where’s Wally?
The real question is if the winner of kooyong will support the sleaze merchant
Penned it – surely you jest! Rod Nockles has Corangamite sewn up. The locals and Krogerites love him and he loves them – a match made in heaven.
Sleazy Dalla Riva
If only the EMR voters could’ve seen ya
Sleazing on to an 18 year old.
Makes any self-respecting Liberal go cold.
Sleazy Dalla Riva
the ‘not potential ministerial material’ line is laughably being peddled by some MPs who are themselves far more lacking in ministerial warp & weft than either josh or john. that said, josh is the biggest tosser among all the candidates. his self-regard is awesome
I am really dissapointed, I put this together with Tim and we always hoped that Josh would turn up, we had some wonderful tricks in store. I am sorry that I did not tell people, that most of the candidates backed out weeks before the event.
We were happy with the 40 people that turned up, but they were all the people on our team, except for Joshy’s two who came to see who was there.
It was a flop, I am not volounteering to do this again. I know that the winner was not in our room on Sunday.
Can anyone tell me why Josh had to leave Downers office in such a hurry? What happened?
I went was impressed by both John and Paul, but on balance John won the debate. He came across as more genuine, knowledgeable, and capable.
I also want to say, Tim did a great job as moderator (he has the right personality and ability to think on his feet for the role). While I agree that a completely impartial moderator would have been ideal… Josh knew Tim was going to be the moderator before he (initially) agreed to participate. Further, the debate rules were circulated to all candidates 2 weeks beforehand (and were distributed to all attendees on the day). Josh never requested a different moderator nor any change to the debate rules. The fact is, he didn’t show up because he was afraid of getting a tough question.
Tim didn’t show any bias towards John on the day (and I genuinely believe wouldn’t have acted any differently if Josh had shown up). After all, Tim’s own reputation would have suffered if he had.
Josh “left” Downer’s office because he was sacked.
RDR.
Don’t step into his car.
Who will next,
receive a text,
from the that dirty old man, RDR.
The non-attendance is no big deal. It was an obvious set by the Baillieu camp and has David Davis written all over it. If Josh shows up he gets ridiculed by the the bright Timmy (its worth noting that the Baillieu camp worship at the shrine of Timmmeh’s alleged genius. He’s bright but no prodigy) if he doesn’t he gets accused of a stuff or being gutless.
The real problem for Josh is the classic disadvantage that candidates who run from ‘outside’ the party have – their lack of experience presenting at local electorate and internal party forums. This is balanced by Mr Smallgood’s lack of pazzaz.
Its true is everyone is annoyed with Ted – but that’s because he is annoying. Brumby is not hated but nor is he popular and things are starting to fray around the edges of the Vic Govt which is natural for a regime of its age – the Libs should be causing them more pain.
Was RDR at the debate? If so, then Josh was right not to attend. If Sleazy Riva wasnt at the debate, then we need to find out whether Josh and Sleazy Riva were together. This is the real issue.
Can someone elaborate about the secret meetings and numerous phone conversations in the last fortnight between Josh and Turnball that is doing the rounds up on the Hill? Has Josh promised Malcolm his vote in exchange for a parl sec straight up?
Pesutto is streets ahead of Joshy re votes from local delegates. He will win Kooyong easily.
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
witnessed an interesting conversation between josh and rdr in the toilets at state council last weekend. RDR couldnt get away from him quick enough…thought josh was going to hold it for him while he did his business if it meant getting his “support”
If it was a teenage girl she could have shaked it all night for me:/
London Calling is wrong … Sleazy Riva otherwise known as Rat Dog Riva is supporting Joshie. So Josn must answer this question at the conention: does he distance hiomself from the ooze of sleaze that is RDR
Do not get inside a car
If the driver is RDR
When all is said and done
I am the former member for Koonung
If RDR were royalty
Richard the Turd his name would be
But this MP is a Rat Dog and sleazy
Keeping his preselection will be far from easy
why are Persutto people now hassling candidates for not going?
The Pesutto force is strong in you Wolfman. Follow it. It is gaining strength in you each day
A few facts about Mr Smallgoods:
(1) He is not the author of the Liberal reforms – Baillieu Knight Frank and friends gave him public credit for them.
(2) He is not Australia’s pre-eminent industrial relations expert – just ask his old colleagues at tin pot firm Henty Jepson, where he was in 2006
Smallies’s spray on haired figure has been hanging around the Kooyong traps for eons, just praying that someone will give him a game on the pitch. His pent up hopes and dreams would be better getting car crashed on a Chisolm pre-selection…
Has anyone else noticed how Josh looks alot like the guy that runs North Korea? It even looks like they have the same barber.
I don’t mean to alarm people, but I wouldn’t be suprised if he didn’t attend the debate because he is planning nuclear tests in Kooyong.
Please vote for somebody else before we too face famine.
Joshy is a dud. Do not vote for him.
It is no coincidence that investment banker, Joshy’s current occupation, rhymes with a word often used to describe him, starting with “w”.
Vote for Prosciutto. Because we could all do with a bit more cured ham.