Bank CEO in Labor tilt? Which big-four banking head is thinking about a run for Labor at the next federal poll? The rumour has been swirling for some time and we reckon it’s got some weight. Know any more?

Guess who came to Blair’s dinner? Last week the business set was treated to a series of $1000-a-head talks from Tony Blair, as the former PM made a Visy-sponsored whistle-stop speaking tour around the country to give his take on world affairs (and to plug his book). But who made it on to the guest list for the uber-exclusive private dinners held afterwards at the Pratt family’s residencies in Melbourne and Sydney?

One spy who attended the Sydney knees-up as a plus-one told our crack The Power Index team they spotted Liberal Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy — as well as rugby league identity Benny Elias, boxing legend Joe Bugner and Jane Ferguson (sister of Fergie). The Australian‘s editor-at-large Paul Kelly was a seated a couple of spots down from the former New Labour messiah. After a speech from Anthony Pratt and a bit of comedy from Irish funnyman Brian Doyle, the guests (half off which paid $5k for the privilege) tucked into a main course that was either duck or lamb (our mole wasn’t such a foodie).

While Blair left before dessert, he was apparently happy to pose in photos and have a chat with everyone. When asked how he relaxed during his time as PM, he told attendees he “never had a day off”. “We went easy on him, nobody hammered him on Iraq or anything,” said our spy.

But who else dined? We’d love to know — drop us a line or tip us anonymously.

Where are the numbers, Gerry? Retailing is bad, we know that, but is it bad enough to silence the usually loquacious Gerry Harvey? Seems so, our markets watcher Glenn Dyer reports:

“Shares in Harvey Norman hit a new 52-week low of $2.13 yesterday as the company again failed to announce fourth quarter and 2011 financial year sales. The shares fell more than 3% or eight cents to the low of $2.13 and ended the day at $2.15. They are now down 22 cents or more than 9% from their most recent peak of $2.35 on July 21. For 2011 so far, the shares peaked at $3.24 in January, so the loss of more than a third.

“Harvey Norman was originally down on stock market calendars to release its figures last week, based on the 2010 sales release on July 26. Sales for the nine months to March 31 were $4.7 billion, up 1.4% on a top-line basis, but down 3.5% on a same store (like for like is the description used by Harvey Norman) basis. Harvey Norman though is not a pure retailer, it is a property play and investors, getting its revenues via fees and royalties charged to its franchisees in the 180 or so centres across the country. It does have retailing interest in NZ, which is doing it tough, Singapore (which is going well, but the retailing business there is finding times hard) and Ireland, which is a real basket case. But most of the revenues and profits come from Australia.

“So where are the numbers, Gerry? Coles, Woolies, David Jones and other retailers have updated the market and taken their medicine. Time for you to have a moan, or are they really poor?”

Taking a bath at council. Swimmers aren’t happy with the Moreland City Council in Melbourne. The Brunswick City Baths are under renovations, with make-do facilities in a school out the back. “No pool, no sauna or spa, flimsy portable showers and toilets, and an alarming trek in the dark along the railway-side bike path between the main temporary building and the group facilities building,” writes one frustrated user. So you might expect a discount on use, at least? They got hit with a rates hike instead. We’re told it’s council-driven, rather than the YMCA which co-runs it.