Apparently the Howards have the painters into their private house in Wollstonecraft. Perhaps they are planning on moving back in shortly?

Outed by Tuesday’s Crikey, the West Australian noted in Wednesday’s paper that WA Newspapers advertising general manager Peter Stevens has been charged with drink-driving. Mr Stevens did not appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court yesterday and the case was adjourned so he could seek legal advice. He is due in court later this month. The paper didn’t mention the prang or that a company car was involved.

It’s not been a secret that PBL has been planning to move Nine out of its Willoughby campus to unlock the value of the land. What is news is that talks are underway to split Nine’s operations: executives will move down to PBL offices at Park Street while news, production and transmission will move in with FOXTEL at North Ryde.

Recently re-elected Victorian Farmers Federation President (and current National Farmers Federation board member) Simon Ramsay has finally decided to pick up sticks and pursue a yet-to-be-specified Liberal Party political career. The Birregurra local has plenty of devotees in western Victoria and the state branch has always been a fan, as you can see here.

Sighting: Alexander Downer drinking a long black with columnist Andrew Bolt and an unidentified third party at the European Cafe in Melbourne’s Spring Street. Could their discussion have been the impetus for this anti-Hicks effort in yesterday’s Herald Sun?