Anthony Albanese and Peter V’landys inside the NRL chairman’s suite at the first State of Origin game last year.

Anthony Albanese and Peter V’landys inside the NRL chairman’s suite at the first State of Origin game last year.

But we wouldn’t be surprised to see Albo in Perth this weekend. A big late swing in Western Australia three years ago effectively delivered Labor majority government,and Albanese has been sandbagging those seats in Perth ever since,making regular trips throughout this term and heading there on day two of the campaign.

If he takes time to watch the footy,it’d be quite a vote of confidence in Labor’s position as the race reaches its midpoint.

The NRL,on the other hand,can afford to snub the sandgropers. Saturday’s double header comes with relations between the league and the WA government particularly frosty,after recent revelations that it had put plans for an expansion team in Perth on ice.

A furious Cook,who has been lobbying Australian Rugby League Commission chairPeter “Showbags” V’landysto help get a team established,urged the NRL to treat WA with more respect. To misquoteDon Draper,“that’s what the[GST] money is for!”

In return,it looks like the NRL’s top brass is set to disrespect the good people of Western Australia even further by skipping out on the weekend’s action. V’landys will don his Racing NSW hat and head to Royal Randwick for Championships Day on Saturday (sponsored by Star,but for how much longer?). That’s despite speculation that he’ll be dropping his racing role for an executive chair job in rugby league.

We hear the NRL’s chief executiveAndrew Abdoalso won’t be heading to Perth,and neither will be most of its senior people. We guess it’s a club game after all,and they’ll all be in Perth for State of Origin Game II in a couple of months.

Unlike Albo,some people can afford to avoid WA.

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Daryl’s day

Former TV show host and current Boomer iconDaryl Somersseems to have had a win in his dispute with former IT contractorGeorge Johnson.

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Somers made his name hosting long-running variety showHey Hey It’s Saturdaybut is now more likely to be seen on court roles than TV sets;he won a trademark battle overHey Hey’sCelebrity Head gamelast week.

Somers’ lawyers last year asked Victoria’s Supreme Court to orderJohnsonto hand back admin access to Somers’ production company’s IT systems,after a dispute arose over an invoice.

The court has now orderedJohnsonto pay some ofSomers’costs. CBD understands costs on both sides run into the tens of thousands.

“The proceeding to which you refer has been resolved,and my client was pleased to receive an order for costs in its favour made by the Supreme Court of Victoria on 18 February 2025,” Somers’ lawyerChristien Cornsfrom K&L Gates told us.

For his part, Johnsononly had this to say:“I hope this is the end of it”.

Very Pyne people

Christopher Pyne.

Christopher Pyne.Credit:Oscar Colman

Times in Washington,DC have been interesting this week to say the least.

As US presidentDonald Trumpunveiled his master plan to wreck the global economy,then demonstrated his dealmaking genius by abruptly backflipping,former defence minister turned hyperactive lobbyistChristopher Pynehas been in DC to fight for the AUKUS pact.

Pyne&Partners held its fourth annual AUKUS Program in the capital this week,just as the British House of Commons announced a parliamentary inquiry into the multibillion-dollar defence agreement,and the volatile Trump administration sparks questions about the United States’ reliability as a security partner.

Festivities kicked off on Wednesday night US time with a dinner at DC’s ritzy Cosmos Club,featuring an address by former prime minister turned ambassador to the United StatesKevin Rudd.Other speakers included Virginia senatorTim Kaine (better known as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016),former US chief of naval operationsGary Rougheadand ex-British secretary of state for defenceMichael Fallon.

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Also on the guest list – former South Australian Liberal premierSteven Marshall,who’s now president of the American Australian Association.

Burke claps back

CBDbrought word this week that American extremistCandace Owenswas lawyering up,asking the High Court to overturn a decision by Home Affairs MinisterTony Burketo deny her a visa to Australia.

Owens hopes that if the court rules in her favour,she can come spew her bile on these shores early next year. Burke,who is defending his western Sydney electorate of Watson from independentZiad Basyouny,took time out of the campaign to hit back at Owens,telling CBD:

“It seems Ms Owens is willing to do anything to avoid refunding the people who paid to see her speak.”

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