Independent senatorLidia Thorpe also kept with the theme of the ball with a “Love Harder” handbag.
Her white skirt was emblazoned with pro-Palestinian “from the river to the sea” slogans and tinged with a red fringe.
Senator Lidia Thorpe arrives at the Midwinter Ball.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
NDIS MinisterBill Shorten turned proud dad as he accompanied his daughter,Georgette,also known as Gigi,to the ball proudly describing her as a “stunner”.
Gigi regaled hacks with stories about a) what a good dad Bill is and b) how he has no musical rhythm whatsoever and is,therefore,an embarrassing dad.
Keeping with the theme,Deputy Prime MinisterRichard Marles brought his daughter Bella.
Prime MinisterRachel Griffiths (well,if you watch the TV dramaTotal Control) arrived from filming in Sydney,a guest of this masthead’s political editorPeter Hartcher.
Actor Rachel Griffiths and Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil.Credit:James Brickwood
The pair became friends when she phoned him for insights for the show.
The aim of the ball,guests were reminded,was to raise $350,000 for selected charities,including Fitted For Work (for disadvantaged women),the Salvation Army,The Humour Foundation (for sick children),Outback Links (for rural Australians doing it tough) and,locally,ACT Pet Crisis Support.
House of Representatives SpeakerMilton Dicklast year won a reputation as a social innovator by hosting exclusive speaker’s drinks,a cross-party social caucus greatly enjoyed by the lucky invitees.
Mindful of his soft power campaign to encourage “safe and respectful” interactions between MPs,there was an encore presentation of speaker’s drinks in Parliament House’s speaker’s courtyard.
For the non-VVIPs,plain old VIP drinks were held in the Great Hall before the start of formal proceedings. More than 640 guests attended,while 300 people who applied missed out on a ticket.
The prime minister was seen in the centre of the venue speaking with AFL chief executiveAndrew Dillon. Greens leaderAdam Bandt was sick,so didn’t make the ball.
Earlier,ABC chairKim Williams bought some lunch at Aussie’s and sat outside to dine in the bright,cold day. At the ball,he was spotted sitting with the national broadcaster’sAnnabel Crabb.
The winner of the night’s major journalism award,Nine’s national affairs editorAndrew Probyn,used the occasion to take aim at his former employer.
Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly makes a statement on violence against women.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
AfterProbyn was made redundant as ABC political editor last year,one of the first calls he received was from the prime minister. Albanese asked how he was,and then:“What the f--- is going on ABC?”
“I’m absolutely delighted to work with Nine. It has been a very supportive environment,” Probyn said.
Nine Entertainment executivesTory Maguire andLuke McIlveen arrived at the ball ahead of new chairCatherine West.
Golding’s view of the Midwinter Ball.Credit:Matt Golding
West had an incident-free arrival at the Nine,The Age andThe Sydney Morning Herald mega bureau – in sharp contrast to her predecessorPeter Costello’sill-fated attendance just a few short weeks ago.
While not on the official seating plan,seated at one of the Nine tables wasJennifer Robinson –the London-based lawyer of newly released WikiLeaks founderJulian Assange.
CBD was eyewitness to an unfailingly polite but fascinatingly awkward social exchange in the press gallery corridor between West and her opposite,News Corp Australasia executive chairmanMichael Miller.