Less than 24 hours ago, the Coalition and the Greens teamed up to kick Labor’s gambling campaign to another committee.
So you’d think that not a single member of the Albanese government would be caught dead sitting at Canberra’s annual Midwinter Ball, at a table sponsored by none other than Sportsbet. But you would be wrong!
Imagine our amusement to learn that the Labor MP for Hunter Daniel Reppacoli and his wife, Alex Reppacolidecided to accept Sportsbet’s generosity while snapping up tickets to Canberra’s annual Met Gala for bad guys on Wednesday evening. Also placed on the table were a gaggle of workers, and Kai Cantwellchief executive of gambling hall, Responsible Wagering Australia. Can you imagine what the speech at that table must have been like? No, thank you.
The press corps came out in force early. Among the early arrivals were Chris Doreeditor-in-chief of Western Australia and other publishing sports of Southern Cross Media. Dorey curled up on her own. Also there at the early doors was the chairman of ABC Kim Williams and Dr. Lisa Caffery.
Peter Tonaghthe chairman of Nine Entertainment (the owner of this title), also showed up for charity, as he did Beverly McGarveythe local boss of Network 10-owner Paramount. Inside boss of News Corp Australia Michael Millertogether with his former manager of corporate affairs Campbell Reidalso made a trip to the south with knees-up.
It would seem that old habits die hard for the Attorney General Michelle Rowlandwho arrived on Wednesday evening wearing a white dress and gold shoes, with her husband Michael Chaaya on his arm. The former communications minister was hosted by lobby group Free TV at this year’s ball, sitting alongside the TV bosses he used to manage.
As regular readers of this column will no doubt recall, the intrigue heading into Wednesday evening focused more on some of the bigwigs who turned out to chase the ball, and more on the list of politicians who decided to miss it this year.
But the political ranks were nevertheless reliable, if a little thin. Minister of Finance Katy Gallagher came to take pictures of the camera wearing a black dress with her daughter, Eviewearing pink, both wearing Aje brand.
The Liberal frontbencher arrived with his sons Coby and Byronhand in hand She wore clothes from a Penrith op shop. “The store was full of prom dresses and ball gowns,” McIntosh said. “I always want to support the small businesses on our high streets.” We bet! Meanwhile, the Minister of Social Services Plibersek asked she arrived in a black off-the-shoulder dress with her husband and the NSW Treasury Secretary Michael Coutts-Trotterno doubt he is feeling a little lighter following the release of last week’s government budget.
A group of Liberal managers then entered the hall. Jane Hume was wearing a brown dress that she surprisingly didn’t want to talk about, other than to say that she would only reveal it was bought online. Don’t be shy, senator! He posed for a photo with the Senator Anne Ruston and the shadow minister for the environment Angie Bell.
Definitely the latecomers to the ball were the Treasurer Jim Chalmerssporting a black tie with his wife Laura Chalmerswho was wearing a powder pink off the shoulder gown. They were followed by the Minister of Housing Clare O’Neilwho entered the hall in Effie Katz which he took for a simple reason: “I liked the color”. He said he was looking forward to some “off-the-record speeches” and said he was interested to see if Angus Taylor can live up to Susan Ley’s “cracker of a speech” last year. He was followed by the Deputy Leader of the Nation Darren Chester and his wife, Julie Chester.
Greens firebrand Senator Sarah Hanson-Youngat the same time, she arrived in a red lace dress, along with her lobbyist husband Ben Oquist in hand She said she chose her dress because she is a small boutique designer with an Australian brand, and that she was looking forward to “making fun of the PM’s speech”.
Then came the goals, who, despite their disagreements over joining the new Community Strong Australia association, won the ball together. Founders of the party Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender they needed to take a selfie before being asked what they were wearing. Steggall pulled out her jumpsuit from the back of her closet, we’re told, and Spender was wearing her mother’s brand, Carla Zampatti.
Spender said it was “beautiful” to wear her mother’s brand and that she was proud to do so. At the same time Nicolette Boelewho has yet to reveal her future with the party, was wearing an $18 black dress from Vinnies in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood. Her purse was $5 – we approve.
Later in the evening, the Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor he arrived at the marble hall with his wife, Louise Clegg. Of course the leader of the Liberal Party had a whole day trying to figure out how to elevate his predecessor Susan Leywho brought the house down with his address in the room last year.
John Buckley is the CBD correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect through email address.
Fiona Byrne is the CBD correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through email address.
