As someone who was critical of Albo’s golf funding deal (pork barrelling by both sides is a joke), I can tell you this PM briefing about Haines is categorically not any sort of dirt file. Anyone who calls this a dirt file, as Peter Van Onselen did, does not have a single clue about how public sector briefings to Ministers work. Either that or they are a rusted-on bleacher-screeching barrow-pusher for one side of politics. Van Onselen’s pieces read like a cadet who has read an offical document for the first time. All the information is completely legitimately gathered, including an attempt to ascertain a pecuniary interest. There are hundreds of these things written every day at state, federal and local government level for ministers of every colour. Stock. Standard. Briefing.