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Rest assured, the big end of town hasnt completely abandoned the Libs, although some seem almost embarrassed to be funding a party gasping for relevance.

How else to explain two donations worth $6000 from the shadowy-sounding Oryxium Investments a company that just happens to be controlled by Steven and David Lowy, of the shopping-centre dynasty.

Billionaire Caledonia fund manager Will Vicars, who gave $7000 on election eve, was less opaque about his donation. As was Sydney Roosters chair Nick Politis, whose $7000 beat the $5000 given to Labor by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, adding a whole new layer to that storied NRL rivalry.

Philanthropist John B. Fairfax, of the family who once owned this masthead, chipped in $1500, which might cause some intergenerational tension given his son Nick Fairfax is a big teal donor.

Speaking of teals, we were intrigued to see Extend Your Edge Pty Ltd, a company linked to Kirsty Gold, wife of private equity director Peter Gold, which had funded Zali Steggalls first Warringah campaign, giving $7000 to the Libs.

A few ex-pollies went through a bit of cash. Former Howard government minister Santo Santoro, who quit politics after a scandalous failure to declare his shareholdings, made three donations worth $5000 in the campaigns final days.

Kerry Chikarovski, one of the few Liberal elders to show up at Dom Perrottets losing party, coughed up $1500, while Kathryn Greiner, ex-wife of former premier Nick Greiner, gave $2000.

The rapid-delivery service Milkrun closed its doors last week, surprising no one whod been paying attention.

But the #thoughtleadership of Australias start-up world appeared affronted at how the collapse was covered in the mainstream media.

Adam Jacobs, a co-founder of The Iconic, and Brad Lindenberg, who made a motser from his QuadPay buy-now-pay-later company, trotted out the usual platitudes about Australias tall poppy obsession.

Former Big Brother contestant Michael Beveridge was at it too, posting a picture over the weekend of him giving the finger to Milkrun founder Dany Milham as the two hung out at Bondi sea baths.

Picture: Dany Milham from the AFRs perspective, wrote Beveridge, who used to work for Milham at his Koala mattress company. The caption also included a bit about dogshit media and, in a burst of originality, tall poppy pile-ons.

Maybe CBD has been in the game too long, but one slightly odd piece aside the Fins coverage of the collapse hasnt looked too bad to us. Milham certainly hasnt suffered the Joe Aston blowtorch applied in recent days to aviation heavyweights Alan Joyce and Jayne Hrdlicka and Qantas and Virgin are still in business, last time we checked.

Jacobs, Lindenberg and Beveridge are all entitled to go public in defence of their mates. But wed like to hear a bit more from those investors including Atlassian billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, who pumped $86 million into Milkrun last year and who look certain to have done most, if not all, their dough.

CBD was intrigued at the choice of venue for the latest unfortunate coming together of independent senator Lidia Thorpe and a smartphone set to record.

Maxines Gentlemans Club on Sydney Road in Brunswick the scene of an altercation between the former Greens senator and a group of men early on Sunday morning is a bit of a storied institution that once traded as a franchise of US smut king Larry Flynts Hustler empire and is owned by Melbourne adult-industry legend Maxine Fensom.

The club lost no time on Monday morning slapping a lifetime ban on Thorpe, which is kinda tragic because Fensom has a teeny tiny role in the senators political origin story.

Back in 2002, the club owner ran in the state election for the seat of Melbourne then a safer-than-safe Labor lock held by Bronwyn Pike but now a Greens stronghold with Fensom garnering a modest 254 primary votes.

But she did direct her preferences to an up-and-comer called Richard Di Natale as he laid the groundwork to turn Melbourne Green and for his career to take him to the top of the party which he led for five years before resigning as leader in 2020, with the party in its wisdom handing Di Natales senate seat to Thorpe.

Small world, eh?

While were on the subject of Thorpe, readers are reminded that its not too late to apply for the plum role of media adviser to the senator.

Applications close today, so if youre quick and you make the grade, who knows? It could be you fielding the calls from journalists next time theres a public blow-up.

Former Bill Shorten chief of staff Ryan Liddell keeps winning in the lobbying game, with his firm Principle Advisory recently picking up seasoned operator Kathryn Conroy, erstwhile government relations director at beer giants Lion.

Like clockwork, Lion was added to Principles books theyd already been working together in South Australia but the boozer landed on the federal lobbyist register last week.

On paper, that relationship looks a little awkward for one of Principles other clients, DrinkWise, the booze-industry-backed body telling Aussies to cut down on the grog not completely but just a little. Lion, meanwhile, is pushing for cuts to beer taxes and other such favourable policy settings. Who said lobbying didnt require a bit of dexterity!

But while DrinkWise takes great pains to reinforce its independence from the booze sector, the fine print makes it pretty clear the companys funded by alcohol companies, including Lion. And, it seems, advised by the same firm.

We brought word yesterday that Gladys Berejiklian would be joining her barrister boyfriend Arthur Moses at the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout this winter.

Turns out it was a false alarm, with the charitys people telling us that the former premier had pulled out late last week. Amid all the hullabaloo around the Sleepouts launch, Vinnies had neglected to sort out that omission on its website.

Were told the Optus executive wont be available and will be finding other ways to support Moses.

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Originally posted here:
Backing a loser: Liberals finally declare donations from big end of town - Sydney Morning Herald