Rugg told CBD she’d been drawn to Ryan since her barnstorming performance in a town hall debate against Josh Frydenberg midway through the election campaign.

“What drew me to Monique was obviously the policy priorities – climate change,gender equity,integrity and transparency in politics,but also her approach as a grassroots,community-connected independent,” Rugg said.

It will be interesting to see how the high-profile Rugg,who makes regular appearances on TV,radio and in columns,handles what is typically a more behind-the-scenes role.

Watts new,Albo?

Over in Albo Land,long-time stafferMoksha Watts is returning to the show as a senior adviser to the PM after six months gardening leave following her departure from Virgin.

Watts quit as chief corporate affairs adviser to hard-charging Virgin CEOJayne Hrdlicka last November,after two former staff complained about Watts’ behaviour,though others at Virgin who worked with her described her as tough but fair,and say they never had an issue with her.

Watts previously worked for Arnotts,Qantas,Jetstar,had six years with Albanese from 2007-13 when Labor was last in government. She also had stints with Jenny Macklin and Kevin Rudd. But she’s also known for the time she took an attempt to claim “high class” clothes from Harrods as a tax deduction right up to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She lost.

Meanwhile,Deputy PMRichard Marles has picked up Sky News’Caitlin Taylor as a media adviser,while Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has nabbedDan Lloyd from Vodafone,who brings a wealth of corporate and telco experience,plus a year withGareth Evans way back in the ′90s.

The new opposition also made some last-minute hires,with Deputy Liberal LeaderSussan Ley appointing formerScott Morrison andMichael McCormack flackDean Shachar as chief of staff.

Scomo’s former head of strategy and researchDave “not Hughesy” Hughes has stuck around too,landing a senior role in Opposition LeaderPeter Dutton’s office. And Molly Hughes,an economic adviser toMathias Cormann andSimon Birmingham also joins team Dutton.

House resurrected

Gustav Mahler’s transcendent Second Symphony,known asThe Resurrection, couldn’t have been a more apt choice to mark the grand reopening of the Sydney Opera House’s refurbished concert hall.

After two and a half years of pandemic-disrupted renovations,the hall’s notoriously average acoustics have gotten a much-needed boost,creating a refreshed Concert Hall befitting of the iconic building that it sits inside.

On Thursday night,under the baton ofSimone Young,the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s return to their resurrected spiritual home drew a star-studded guest list. From the political world came former prime ministerMalcolm Turnbull and wifeLucy Turnbull (who is chair of the Sydney Opera House Trust),state Arts MinisterBenjamin Franklin and Heritage MinisterJames Griffin,as well as the forever Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

NSW GovernorMargaret Beazley was also soaking up the new acoustics,as was ABC chairIta Buttrose, and arts philanthropistRoslyn Packer. From the music world came SSO managing directorMary Jo Capps,and former concertmastersDene Olding andDonald Hazelwood,who no doubt wished they could’ve had their time again on the new stage.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley.Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.