Disclosures from our political masters from their interests register has dribbled to nothing since the election was called. But CBD did find something of interest before Malcolm Turnbull pulled his biggest political gamble.
In early May, Tony Abbott updated his register saying he had received a bottle of wine from Alf Moufarrige's Servcorp.
It was not an unusual gesture from the prominent Liberal Party donor.
CBD did mention recently how Moufarrige made a bit too much news in 2008 by gifting six bottles of Grange to good mate Peter Costello after he opened a Servcorp office in Melbourne.
But then a closer look at the disclosures register also revealed that Moufarrige donated another bottle of wine to big Tony just weeks earlier.
The plot thickens.
Was Tony on the Grange-train? And why was Alf getting so generous with his plonk?
"He's a good guy and we rode in the Pollie Pedal together," explained Moufarrige in an emailed response. "I think he deserved a drink."
And what sort of plonk was it Alf? Alf, can you hear me?
Angus stake
So Angus Aitken did the big walk from his senior role at Bell Potter on Thursday after his comments on how "crap" investment bankers are when it comes to working in ASX-listed companies.
ANZ interpreted his note as a sexist take down of its new CFO, Michelle Jablko – the subject of the note – rather than a general comment on the performance of investment bankers in general.
Let's not get into her role in helping Slater and Gordon acquire most of Quindell for $1.3 billion last year which will go down as one of the most disastrous acquisitions of all time.
Trouble was clearly brewing when Aitken sent a follow-up note which said: "Apologies for my rant yesterday, was over the top. I am sure the new CFO will do a good job."
On Thursday, a spokesman for the stockbroker confirmed Aitken was no longer at the firm, but declined to comment further.
For its part, ANZ denied the rumour that its chairman, David Gonski, had interrupted a boardroom meeting to phone Bell chairman, Colin Bell, over the matter.
But ANZ was more forthcoming on its displeasure with Aitken. "Many people were surprised and disappointed by the note he sent," said a company spokesman.
Sexism alive + well in stockbroking? @Bell_Potter Aitkin memo on #ANZ Michelle Jabko CFO appointment @cazzmelbourne pic.twitter.com/NkAu75Ht1D— Paul Edwards (@pgtedwards) May 25, 2016
Let's hope that ANZ was driven by genuine concerns over sexism, as claimed, rather than a need to polish up its tarnished credentials after very public troubles with employees in strip clubs, and consuming non-prescription pharmaceuticals.
There are other factors muddying the waters of course.
Aitken's recent record with ASIC means he must have been on a short leash at Bell.
Bell has been on its own short leash in recent times with the ASX over its treatment of the fairer sex.
In 2012, Bell was forced to clarify its "diversity" policy following a query from the stock cops.
It had no female directors at the time (it does now) and women made up around 31 per cent of its workforce.
The broker explained that it employed people on the basis of whether they were the "best fit" for a job. "It was not considered that an assessment of the number of women in 'senior executive positions' would assist shareholders in better understanding the decision-making processes of the company," it said.
NAB's Brexit
It is good to see that NAB's reject pile of British assets, spun off as the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, is doing very well indeed.
The stock has soared since its February float and chief executive, David Duffy, is fixing up its stuffy old image by wooing millennials with its "artificial intelligence-based" platform.
"It is something that is unrecognisable when you compare it to any other bank," said Duffy.
"The advertising campaign is a bunch of madcap kids in cops and robbers cars, Bugsy Malone, all kinds of crazy stuff: 'remember when you didn't have to worry about money and life was fun'."
And we were all out robbing banks?
Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
