Seems little Johnny is no vinophile...

PaulSheldon · Post by **PaulSheldon** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:07 pm

Bit sad for the PM of our fine wine producing country

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/08/1078594289909.html

AlanK · Post by **AlanK** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:19 pm

What a laugh!

Give us the $8000!

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:31 pm

Even before I read the link I thought, hang on, isn't Peter Bourne the man responsible for this? But, having got to the end of the article, I wonder whether in fact his job was stocking the Lodge cellar - where the PM should be living.

So Kirribilli house has a smaller, cheaper, and way nastier cellar than I do. Not really sure if I should be a proud taxpayer or a disappointed wine-lover (although if it cost 8 grand in consulting fees I'll be a mite cheesed off).

And I'm sure I remember previous media articles detailing some significant trophy wines purchased for Prime Ministerial consumption. (Giaconda rings a bell.) Perhaps they've all been consumed already.Talk about casting pearls before swine...

cheers,
Graeme

PS It's not as if there's a rush to drink the good stuff before the next election, after all...

simm · Post by **simm** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:03 am

Give me one good reason why anyone should be paid $8000 to be consulted about something which might take 10 minutes thought and 20 minutes on the buzzer to check availability. I don't even keep any of this in my cellar, in fact (bar the Edelston) it wouldn't even need a cellar.
Surely the advice PB gave wasn't taken! Same attitude toward foreign affairs. And what was all that talk about the Grange expenditure last year. Was it all guzzled in one night by the barbie?

Grouse woin Johnno!!

guest consultant · Post by **guest consultant** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 1:16 pm

It's drawing a long bow to suggest Peter Bourne was responsible for the parlous state of the cellar or that he didn't give value for his 8,000. Hard to know if his advice was acted on, most probably not.

Do we really want Johnny to be Australia's wine ambassador? He may know more about how to clean your cricket boots than how a wine should taste.

Now what I would really like to see is the wine list and turnover of the Members' dining room at Parliament House. And which member has the biggest account.

MartinC · Post by **MartinC** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:29 pm

I betcha Jonnie won't be around the next term

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:03 pm

It'll be interesting to see what Mark 'the PM's an arselicker' Latham decides to have in his cellar if he gets into the job. My bet is that he'll do the 'I'm a man of the people' routine, Yellow Tail chardonnay and Koonunga Hill red for all.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:41 pm

Anonymous wrote:It'll be interesting to see what Mark 'the PM's an arselicker' Latham decides to have in his cellar if he gets into the job. My bet is that he'll do the 'I'm a man of the people' routine, Yellow Tail chardonnay and Koonunga Hill red for all.

Does MR Howard ESQ. have the spirit of generosity and the bonhomie that seems inherent to winelovers? Wonder what he'll be drinking AT THE RANCH during his trip after the budget.

At least Latham looks comfortable with a beer in his hand!

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:54 am

Daryl Douglas wrote:Does MR Howard ESQ. have the spirit of generosity and the bonhomie that seems inherent to winelovers?

I don't think with a strict-ish Methodist upbringing, and living with Mum & dad until the age of 32, that the PM could be considered a 'winelover' by any means. Unless he's changed his outlook as the years go by - somehow that doesn't sound like our PM...

cheers,
Graeme

AlanK · Post by **AlanK** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:54 am

The follow-up article from Jeni Port

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/ ... 93872.html

Cheers,
Alan

simm · Post by **simm** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:25 am

MartinC wrote:I betcha Jonnie won't be around the next term

There are so few people I know or have run into in cabs, the streets, trains, shops an so on over the years, who can't stand the little Mussolini it's a wonder he's been in for so long. So don't count your votes before they mean anything (which they rarely do)

My big reason for celebrating this weekend was the Mayorship win of Clover Moore. You see, there is some political justic in the world. And what did labor think they were doing by giving their preferences to the Liberal party? Now, watch Bob run, run Bob run.

With any luck Latham will get in bring the boys home despite what everyone else thinks. Yeah :!:

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:03 am

I can assure you 34 Squadron RAAF- 737's & Challenger jet aircraft pleasantly kitted out to fly pollies about, would have a very good wine list.

I don't think they have seen Grange for a few years ( 80's the last ), but Langi shiraz a recent quaffer.

The wine list on the VIP flights well presented and available under the freedom of information act.