The Midwinter Ball – the biggest social night of the year for politicians, their partners, staffers and journalists – raised $4.5 million for charity… but also a few eyebrows.
Awkward moments abounded at Parliament House on Wednesday evening, ranging from a dress double up to a table seating fail to troublemaking by Greens senators.
There was also a dateless Penny Wong feeling self-conscious and telling photographers taking her picture: ‘OK can we stop this now, it’s so weird’.
Things got off to an awkward start for Anthony Albanese’s partner Jodie and Peter Dutton’s wife Kirrily when they turned up wearing near-identical sequin dresses with plunging necklines.
Mr Dutton suffered another embarrassment with just a single person bidding to watch a Brisbane Heat cricket match with the Liberal leader during the online charity auction.
By contrast there were 20 bids to play pool against the prime minister at The Lodge, with the lucky winner forking out $8,600 for the privilege.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and his partner Jodie Haydon (right) looked very glamorous as they arrived for the Midwinter ball in Canberra
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (left) and his wife Kirilly were all smiles as they arrived at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra
Nationals leader David Littleproud was also discovered his partner Amelia Dobson was listed on the seating plan as ‘Amelia Littleproud’, despite the pair being unmarried.
Mr Littleproud has been dating banking executive Amelia Dobson since 2019, months after his marriage to ex-wife Sarah ended.
Ms Dobson thought the mistake was hilarious and souvenired the table marker with the far-too-soon name, but Mr Littleproud was less impressed.
Before the guests took their seats, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe made a scene – marching through parliament’s Marble Foyer in blue jeans and an Aboriginal flag t-shirt yelling about ‘fossil fools’ with her fist, and extended middle fingers, raised, in protest at ball sponsor Woodside Energy.
Senator Thorpe later reappeared shouting ‘stop destroying the planet… criminals’.
Senator Hanson-Young joined the protest more quietly, wearing a white dress with ‘End Gas and Coal’ scrawled on the back.
Greens leader Adam Bandt’s wife wore a similar number with the message ‘gas kills’.
Both stunts appeared to be a rip-off of prominent left-wing New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – who wore a similar dress reading ‘tax the rich’ to a $35,000-per-person Met Gala last year.
Because of Covid cancellations, last night’s celebrations were the first Midwinter Ball since 2019 – held outside of winter due to the election for Mr Albanese’s government in May.
Mr Albanese – who underwent a style transformation during the recent election – kicked off proceedings arriving with his girlfriend Jodie Haydon – who wore a black sequined gown with a plunging neckline.
The ball, where MPs and senators try to disprove the theory that politics is showbusiness for ugly people, started in 2000 and is hosted by the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Australia’s first couple switched sides and held hands for a another picture of them at the ball
Nationals Leader David Littleproud and partner Amelia Dobson during the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his wife Laura are pictured during the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery in Canberra
Greens Leader Adam Bandt (left) is pictured with his partner Claudia Perkins, whose dress is being used as a billboard for her views on environmental policies
Unfortunately – given the number of journalists present – no video appears to have been recorded of the moment.
Senator Thorpe’s colleague Sarah Hanson-Young arrived wearing a long white dress with ‘End gas and coal’ written on the back of it.
Among the sponsors of the shindig were Shell and Woodside Energy, neither of whom were probably pleased with the dress worn by Ms Hanson-Young.
Ms Thorpe later reappeared shouting ‘stop destroying the planet… criminals’.
Her boss, Greens MP Adam Bandt and his partner Claudia Perkins also caused a stir.
In the past, Ms Perkins had ‘coal kills’ shaved into her head, while on Wednesday night she had that slogan and also ‘gas kills’ written in black and red all over her otherwise white dress.
‘I think given we’re in a climate crisis it’s really appalling that Labor is exploring 114 new gas projects, and we wanted to make that point to as many people as possible at once,’ she said.
Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells, partner Finn McCarthy and campaigner Amber Setchell during the Midwinter Ball
Sarah Hanson-Young makes a showcase entrance to the Midwinter Ball with a long white dress decorated with a call to ‘end gas and coal’
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s floor length dress also features environmental slogans when seen from the front
Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens Leader Adam Bandt, partner Claudia Perkins and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young are pictured at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra
While Ms Hanson-Young and Ms Perkins used their attendance in striking dresses to make political statements, their colleagues Jordon Steele-John and Larissa Waters both said they would not attend the event.
‘Tonight’s Midwinter Ball is yet another reminder of the perverse hold coal and gas have over our government, no matter who leads it. I will not be attending,’ Senator Steele-John said.
‘Watching MPs swan about in suits and sparkles at an event openly sponsored by coal and gas is frankly sickening.
‘When contrasted with the reality of the climate crisis in places like Pakistan, in places like Lismore, we see where the political class’ priorities lie,’ he said on Twitter.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Jim Chalmers stayed outside mingling with the crowd until the event was about to begin.
But then Mr Chalmers and the others moved away and Ms Wong was left to face half a dozen photographers alone.
She was a good sport but found the attention progressively more awkward.
‘I can’t believe you’re all taking photos of me by myself. ‘Oh look, poor Penny Wong at the party all by herself with no friends and a busted shoulder,” she said.
Then she added: ‘OK can we stop this now, it’s so weird.’
All the while Mr Chalmers was laughing along at the bizarre scene just a metre away.
Liberal Senator David Van (right) is pictured with his partner Nerilee Rockman arriving at the Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, September 7, 2022
From left to right: Minister of Social Services Amanda Rishworth, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Finn McCarthy, partner of Minister of Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon at the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball
Pictured left to right are Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Finn McCarthy and his partner, Aged Care Minister Anika Wells pose at the 2022 Midwinter Ball in Canberra
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney (right) poses alongside Bree Coggan, who works at the Department of Agriculture
Ms Wong said her shoulder was feeling much better after she damaged ligaments when a surfboard smashed into her shoulder at a beach while on a family holiday days before the opening of parliament in July.
There was a minor kerfuffle when, just after 8pm the Senate bells rang and Ms Wong and a dozen others had to bolt out of the party to the chamber, striding in wearing glittering ball gowns and tuxedos.
Mercifully, they were able to turn around and go back seconds after arriving as it turned out to be a quorum and they only needed to be present for an instant.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison was notable by his absence, as was former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.
Mr Joyce was seen slinking away moments before the ball began and was the butt of multiple jokes.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (left) is pictured in a fetching gown and Treasurer Jim Chalmers (right) in a classic black suit at the Midwinter Ball
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is all in black and all smiles at the glitzy ball in Canberra
Penny Wong (left) poses for a photo with fellow Labor politicians Katy Gallagher and Jim Chalmers. Mr Chalmers wife Laura is pictured beside him in an off the shoulder red number
Numerous guests have noted the beer and sparkling wine was flat and unpleasantly lukewarm both outside in the lobby and inside the ball.
Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton both briefly posed for photos then quickly blitzed through the crowd to join the festivities.
On the VIP tables, Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon will be joined by Senate president Sue Lines, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko and his wife Liana and a number of other guests.
On the other VIP table, Mr Dutton and his wife Kirilly are being joined by Nationals leader David Littleproud and partner Amelia Dobson.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko (left) is pictured with his partner Liana Myroshnychenko at the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball
Senator Jacqui Lambie (left) is pictured wearing a floor length glittery affair, while Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Susan Ley wears a classic black dress
Former Liberal politician Christine Forster (left) is pictured with her partner Sandra McInnes at the Midwinter Ball on Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Mr Littleproud and Ms Dobson arrived early, before almost all his colleagues, in what is believed to be their first official event together.
An awkward error on the seating plan listed Ms Dobson as ‘Amelia Littleproud’ despite the absence of a ring on either of their fingers.
Mr Littleproud found love with the glamorous bank executive just months after splitting with his wife.
Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly is pictured in a read and pink dress with her partner David Allen at the Midwinter Ball
Pictured left to right are Aged Care and Sport Minister Anika Wells, her partner Finn McCarthy and, wearing a very sparkly black number, political campaigning specialist Amber Setchell
Independent Indi MP Helen Haines (right) is pictured with her husband Phil looking dapper in a tuxedo at Canberra’s night of nights
The so-called teal independent maybe missed a trick in not actually dressing in teal, but their respective black and shimmery silver dresses looked fabulous anyway. Left is Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and beside her is Curtin MP Kate Chaney
The last time the ball was held, in 2019, was in the before times, when Covid didn’t exist.
The Qantas table at that do, saw its CEO Alan Joyce (who isn’t at tonight’s event) playing host to a then little known British politician called Liz Truss.
This week, Ms Truss was sworn in as the UK’s new prime minister.
Traditionally held in the third week of June each year, but delayed this year until spring because of the Federal Election held in May, the ball brings together the journalistic, political and corporate chiefs of Australia, as well as their overworked staffers.
Almost all MPs bailed after the conclusion of speeches and were gone by 11pm – some of the aforementioned staffers kicked on however.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic is pictured in a smart, black suit at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra on Wednesday, September 7
With corporate sponsorship and an online auction, the ball has raised $4,453,000 for charity to date.
Outside, protesters held what they called an alternative ball on the lawns outside Parliament House with sorrowful music, dancing black wraiths (supposedly representing fossil fuels) and koalas.
Extinction Rebellion spokesperson John Wurcker said the government must end fossil-fuel sponsorship of events and donations to political parties.
‘The Australian public at the election sent a clear signal that we want serious action on the climate crisis.
‘What we see from the new government is business as usual – insufficient targets, new fossil fuel projects and failing to rein in an industry that is leading us off a cliff,’ he said.
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