Oakes to lecture on retirement? Will press gallery doyen Laurie Oakes bid farewell tonight? There are rumours he’ll use his Andrew Olle Lecture in Sydney tonight to announce his retirement. Reliable industry blog TV Tonight said talk was being fuelled by the fact “several Nine News and current affairs faces have been told to clear their diaries to attend the black-tie dinner at The Westin Hotel in Sydney”. A Nine spokesperson insists Oakes recently extended his contract, but stay tuned just in case …

Investment man for trade post. Who’s the Sydney investment guru said to be packing his bags for New York to take up a trade commission post?

Parliament gets the Power. We were amused — self-interestedly — by this exchange in NSW estimates committee hearings yesterday:

JOHN ROBERTSON: My question is directed to the Premier. Given that The Power Index has named Nick Greiner ahead of the premier as the most powerful figure in NSW …

ANDREW STONER: It doesn’t name you at all.

JOHN ROBERTSON: You are not there either, mate. Unlike you, I’m not offended.

SPEAKER: Order! The leader of the opposition may ask his question again.

JOHN ROBERTSON: My question is directed to the premier. Given that The Power Index has named Nick Greiner ahead of the premier as the most powerful figure in NSW, why will he not require him to appear before budget estimates next week?

You can read the premier’s response on Hansard. And Paul Barry’s justification for naming the NSW infrastructure boss as the most powerful man in Sydney, ahead of the premier. Thanks for reading, guys.