Porn king's new book laments decline of larrikinism
Now, it seems like Costas has taken a dash of inspiration from the blokes he's spent years bringing to Australia.
Juiced Up
An opening night standing ovation (when isn't there one in Melbourne?) at the Regent Theatre on Saturday for the Australian premiere of 'the global phenomenon' Beetlejuice The Musical 'proudly backed by the Victorian government', according to its own press release.
But how much did the cash-strapped government via Visit Victoria and the Major Events tourism slush fund sling into the coffers of producer Michael Cassel for the musical you didn't know you needed, adapted from the much-loved 1988 Tim Burton gothic comedy film? Well, that's a state secret.
Anyway, shush, the 'hit show nominated for eight Tony Awards' has songs and music by home-town boy Eddie Perfect and is contributing to Victoria's record $40 billion visitor economy, so just enjoy the show, OK?
So who went? Everyone from songwriter and performer Tim Minchin to prominent financier and philanthropist Peter Yates.
ABC Melebrities included ABC News Breakfast presenter Bridget Brennan and presenter of everything else Patricia Karvelas. ABC-aligned opening-night eventists included comedian Sammy J and Spicks and Specks panellist Alan Brough.
Also up for a good time was Seven News presenter Karina Carvalho, actor Alison Whyte and actor Kat Stewart, who used to star with Perfect in Offspring.
And at 7pm, just before lights down and curtain up, who were standing slap bang in the middle of the auditorium, having a power chat? None other than Martin Pakula, now chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and forthcoming chair of Crown Resorts (regulatory approval pending) and NGV president of trustees Janet Whiting.
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Janet was appointed chair of Visit Victoria when Marty was major events minister.
As the government likes to spruik, Melbourne is the 'cultural capital of the nation' but it's still a small town.
Roy and his (Aussie) toy
Last week, CBD brought word of former Liberal frontbencher Wyatt Roy 's remarkable post-political journey to Saudi Arabia, where he's become part of the kingdom's squillion-dollar global PR campaign to launder its image.
In an attempt to show off the kingdom's cool and fun side, Roy posted an Instagram video of himself jetskiing while waving the Saudi flag. Turns out our youngest ever MP and minister hadn't completely abandoned his Aussie roots.
In the video, Roy was riding an electric-powered water board from Byron Bay-based company Fliteboard, founded by kitesurfing world record holder and serial entrepreneur David Trewern.
Before being turfed out of politics, Roy was assistant minister for innovation in the famously innovative and agile Turnbull government, and it's nice to see him maintaining the passion for True Blue Australian innovative agility on the global stage.
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Head of innovation is also Roy's title at Neom, the futuristic linear megacity that is the vanity project of Saudi de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.
Right now, Neom needs all the innovation it can get. Recent reports suggested the project was set to blow out to an eye-watering $US8.8 trillion, and take over half a century to build.
Various elements of the ambitious project have recently been scaled back, and former chief executive Nadhmi Al-Nasr departed last year.
With financials like that, we don't begrudge Wyatt a little aquatic escapism.
Dicker down
All good things must come to an end. On Friday, one of Australia's most eccentric rich-listers stepped down as chairman and chief executive of the company he co-founded in 1978.
We're talking about David Dicker, the (almost) billionaire behind Dicker Data. The lavishly bearded lover of fast cars and private jets left Australia in 2019 because it was an 'authoritarian shithole' to live his best life out of a Dubai hotel room.
In the past two years, Dicker has sold nearly $300 million worth of stock in his logistics software company, citing costs associated with the divorce settlement with his second wife, Delwyn Dicker.
The firm announced its co-founder's departure to the market late on Friday, with Dicker set to stay on for six months in a consulting role. Meanwhile, the other co-founder, Fiona Brown, who happens to be Dicker's other ex-wife, will move into an executive chair role.
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