At least he was on official business. Now CBD has learnt the CFMMEU’s national secretary, Michael O’Connor, isn’t missing in action ⁠— he’s actually holidaying in Europe, where he’s been for the past month. (He has, as his social media output shows, kept one eye on the wheel.) His offsider, assistant secretary Dave Noonan, is also out of the country. He’s holidaying in Vanuatu, according to our sources. Meanwhile, former union man Greg Combet was spotted dining with Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday. The one-time Australian Council of Trade Unions boss turned IFM Investors chairman was with the ex-PM at Chifley Tower’s District Brasserie. A NIGHT WITH THE NRL On Monday, it was the NRL's turn to court politicians in Canberra. That was the same day Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys became the Australian Rugby League Commission’s chairman. (We couldn’t help but notice he was deep in conversation with former NRL commissioner Mark Coyne at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Coyne, of course, left that position after verbally abusing a Singapore cop in July).

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg hosted a secret dinner for Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, International Development Minister Alex Hawke and Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt at Barton eatery Chairman & Yip. It wasn’t entirely a Coalition affair ⁠— Labor leader Anthony Albanese also scored an invite. The South Sydney Rabbitohs, his team, are playing in the NRL’s final series this Friday at the SCG, while Morrison’s team ⁠— the Cronulla Sharks ⁠— play Manly the following day at Brookvale. Also in town on Tuesday were some of Westpac’s most senior executives including the bank’s chief executive Brian Hartzer and chief financial officer Peter King. They were in town “catching up” with a number of backbenchers and, presumably, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Coincidentally, it was the same day that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission decided to appeal its failed attempt to pursue the bank over allegations of breaching responsible lending laws.

CATO'S COUNCIL The Sydney Contemporary Art Fair does not officially open until Thursday ⁠— having this year attracted galleries from Kyoto, London and Paris ⁠— but unofficial events have already begun. Last night it was corporate spin doctor Sue Cato’s turn to host one of the first parties of the week, welcoming some of the larger international galleries to her Redfern residence. Cato is on the Sam Mostyn-chaired board of Carriageworks, which is hosting the fair. On the guest list last night: National Gallery of Australia director Nick Mitzevich, Art Basel executive Megan Leckie, Museum of Contemporary Art board member Nick Tobias, Starkwhite Gallery’s Dominic Feuchs and John McCormack, Yavuz Gallery’s Can Yavuz and Stella Chang from Singapore and art collector Clinton Ng. Of some note, despite its horror year and having ended its local equities trading business only two months ago, Deutsche Bank is back as the event’s principal sponsor.

ON NOTICE? Things, as we reported last week, are not well at GetSwift. The delivery management tech outfit run by Young Rich Lister and former Melbourne AFL player Joel Macdonald was once worth $700 million. Now ASIC is pursuing the company over claims it repeatedly mislead the share market – once it was able to track down Macdonald to serve the company with court documents. GetSwift’s financial results were so underwhelming that they were made public more than three hours after the market closed last Wednesday. That didn't prevent Macdonald from increasing his salary by 40 per cent to $960,000.