The Midwinter Ball, the largest social event of the year for politicians, their partners, staff, and journalists, raised $4.5 million for charity… and a few eyebrows.
On Wednesday evening, there was an abundance of awkward moments at Parliament House, including a dress mix-up, a table seating mishap, Greens senators causing trouble, and a dateless Penny Wong feeling self-conscious and telling photographers, “OK, can we end this now? It’s so odd.”
When Anthony Albanese’s companion Jodie and Peter Dutton’s wife Kirrily showed up wearing nearly identical sequin dresses with low necklines, things got off to an unpleasant start.
During the online charity auction, only one individual bid on the opportunity to see a Brisbane Heat cricket match with the head of the Liberal Party.
In contrast, there were twenty bids to play pool with the prime minister at The Lodge, and the lucky winner paid $8,600 for the opportunity.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and his partner Jodie Haydon (right) arrived at the Midwinter ball in Canberra looking quite gorgeous.
Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition, and his wife, Kirilly, were beaming as they arrived at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra.
Miscues with the ball
Jodie, the partner of Anthony Albanese, and Kirrily, the wife of Peter Dutton, arrived wearing identical sequined costumes.
David Littleproud, the head of the Nationals, was left red-faced when he realized that his unmarried partner Amelia Dobson was named on the seating plan as Amelia Littleproud.
3. Lidia Thorpe made a disturbance – storming through parliament’s Marble Foyer while ranting about ‘fossil fools’
During the charity auction, only one individual bid to watch a Brisbane Heat cricket match with the Liberal leader.
David Littleproud, the head of the Nationals, was infuriated when he realized that his unmarried partner Amelia Dobson was listed on the seating chart as Amelia Littleproud.
Since 2019, Mr. Littleproud has dated banking professional Amelia Dobson, months after his marriage to ex-wife Sarah dissolved.
Ms. Dobson felt the error was humorous and kept the table marker with the incorrect name as a memento, although Mr. Littleproud was less amused.
Before the guests took their seats, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe caused a stir by marching through parliament’s Marble Foyer while shouting “fossil fools” and raising her fist in protest against the ball’s sponsor, Woodside Energy.
Senator Hanson-Young joined the demonstration incognito, wearing a white dress with the words “End Gas and Coal” written on the back.
The wife of Greens leader Adam Bandt wore a shirt with the message ‘gas kills’ Last year’s $35,000-per-person Met Gala was attended by renowned left-leaning New York politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who wore a similar outfit that stated “tax the rich”
Due to Covid cancellations, Friday night’s festivities marked the first Midwinter Ball since 2019 – scheduled outside of winter due to Mr. Albanese’s government election in May.
Mr. Albanese, who underwent a style transformation during the recent election, and his girlfriend Jodie Haydon, who wore a black sequined gown with a plunging neckline, were the first to arrive.
The Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery began hosting the event in 2000, at which MPs and senators attempt to debunk the stereotype that politics is show business for ugly people.
However, it frequently attracts controversy, and this year was no exception.
The outspoken Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, who was denied a ticket to the event, raced down the marble steps in blue jeans and an Aboriginal flag T-shirt, repeatedly yelling “fossil fools” and giving the assembled guests the middle finger.
Australia’s first couple shifted sides and held hands for a another picture of them at the ball
David Littleproud and Amelia Dobson at the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his wife Laura are seen in Canberra’s Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Adam Bandt (left) is photographed with his partner Claudia Perkins, whose clothing serves as a billboard for her opinions on environmental issues.
Despite the large number of journalists present, it appears that no video was taken of the event.
Sarah Hanson-Young, a colleague of Senator Thorpe, appeared in a long white dress with ‘End gas and coal’ printed on the back.
Shell and Woodside Energy were among the event’s sponsors, and neither of them were likely thrilled with Ms. Hanson-attire. Young’s
Later, Ms. Thorpe reappeared yelling, “Stop killing the planet, you criminals!”
Her supervisor, Greens representative Adam Bandt, and his partner Claudia Perkins also caused a stir.
In the past, Ms. Perkins had ‘coal kills’ shaved into her skull, however on Wednesday night she had ‘coal kills’ and ‘gas kills’ scrawled all over her white clothing in black and red.
She stated, “Given that we are in the midst of a climate crisis, it is awful that Labor is considering 114 new gas projects, and we wanted to get that message out to as many people as possible at once.”
During the Midwinter Ball, Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells, her partner Finn McCarthy, and activist Amber Setchell are shown.
Sarah Hanson-Young makes a grand entry at the Midwinter Ball in a long white gown emblazoned with the phrase “stop gas and coal.”
The front of Senator Sarah Hanson-floor-length Young’s garment bears environmental themes.
At the Midwinter Ball in Canberra are Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens Leader Adam Bandt, his partner Claudia Perkins, and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
While Ms. Hanson-Young and Ms.
‘Tonight’s Midwinter Ball is yet another example of the perverse influence that coal and gas have on our government, regardless of who is in charge. Senator Steele-John declared, “I will not be attending.”
‘It is very nauseating to see members of Congress strut around in suits and sequins at an event blatantly sponsored by coal and gas.
“When compared to the reality of the climate crisis in places like Pakistan and Lismore, we can see where the political class’s priorities lie,” he wrote on Twitter.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Jim Chalmers remained in the crowd outside until the event was about to begin.
But then Mr. Chalmers and the others withdrew, leaving Ms. Wong alone with a half-dozen cameras.
She was a good sport, but she grew increasingly uncomfortable with the attention.
‘I can’t believe you’re all taking shots of me by myself. ‘
Oh, look at poor Penny Wong at the party by herself with a dislocated shoulder and no companions,” she exclaimed.
Then she said, “OK, can we end this now? It’s so bizarre.”
All the while Mr Chalmers was laughing along at the bizarre scene just a metre away.
Senator David Van (right) and his partner Nerilee Rockman are photographed arriving at the Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra on September 7, 2022.
Minister of Social Services Amanda Rishworth, Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Finn McCarthy, and Minister of Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells’s partner.
Photograph of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) and his partner Jodie Haydon at the Midwinter Ball of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery.
At the 2022 Midwinter Ball in Canberra, from left to right, 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.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney (right) poses with Department of Agriculture employee Bree Coggan.
Ms. Wong reported that her shoulder was feeling considerably better after she tore ligaments when a surfboard collided with it on a beach during a family vacation just days before the July start of parliament.
There was a slight commotion when, shortly after 8 p.m., the Senate bells rang, forcing Ms. Wong and a dozen others to dash out of the celebration and into the chamber, dressed in shimmering ball gowns and tuxedos.
Mercifully, they were able to turn around and leave few seconds after arriving, as it turned out that a quorum had been reached and they were only required to be present for a split second.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce were conspicuously absent.
Mr. Joyce was spotted slinking away shortly before the ball began and was the punchline of numerous jokes.
At the Midwinter Ball, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (left) is featured in an elegant gown, while Treasurer Jim Chalmers (right) wears a classic black suit.
Penny Wong wears all black and is all smiles at the glittering ball in Canberra.
Penny Wong (left) and fellow Labor lawmakers Katy Gallagher and Jim Chalmers pose for a photo. Mrs. Chalmers is photographed next to her husband in a crimson off-the-shoulder dress.
Numerous attendees observed that the beer and sparkling champagne served in the foyer and at the event were flat and lukewarm.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition, briefly posed for photographs before rushing through the mob to join the festivities.
Mr. Albanese and Ms. Haydon will be joined at the VIP tables by the Senate president, Sue Lines, the ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, and his wife, Liana, as well as a number of other guests.
Mr. Dutton and his wife Kirilly are joined at the opposite VIP table by Nationals leader David Littleproud and his companion Amelia Dobson.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko (left) is shown at the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball with his wife Liana Myroshnychenko.
Senator Jacqui Lambie (left) is photographed sporting a glittering floor-length gown, while Liberal Party Deputy Leader Susan Ley wears a classic black dress.
On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, former Liberal MP Christine Forster (left) is photographed with her partner Sandra McInnes at the Midwinter Ball.
In what is believed to be their first formal function together, Mr. Littleproud and Ms. Dobson came early, before nearly all of his colleagues.
A mistake on the seating chart incorrectly identified Ms. Dobson as “Amelia Littleproud,” despite the absence of a ring on either of their fingers.
Mr. Littleproud fell in love with the beautiful bank executive only a few months after divorcing his wife.
Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly is pictured in a red and pink dress at the Midwinter Ball with her partner David Allen.
Aged Care and Sport Minister Anika Wells, her partner Finn McCarthy, and political campaigning expert Amber Setchell, sporting a very glittery black outfit, are pictured from left to right.
Independent Indi MP Helen Haines (right) is pictured with her tuxedo-clad husband Phil at Canberra’s night of nights.
The so-called teal independents may have missed a trick by not wearing teal, but their respective black and silver-shimmering costumes were nevertheless stunning. Left is Wentworth Representative Allegra Spender and alongside her is Curtin Representative Kate Chaney.
The last time the ball was held, in 2019, was prior to the existence of Covid.
The Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (who is not present at tonight’s event) hosted then-unfamiliar British politician Liz Truss at that event.
This week, Ms. Truss became the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Traditionally held in the third week of June each year, but postponed this year due to the May Federal Election, the ball brings together Australia’s journalistic, political, and corporate leaders, as well as their tireless workers.
After the conclusion of the speeches, almost all members of Congress left and were gone by 11 p.m. However, some of the aforementioned workers remained.
On September 7, Minister of Industry and Science Ed Husic is shown in a black suit at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra.
Through corporate sponsorship and an online auction, the charity ball has raised $4,453,000 to date.
Outside, demonstrators organized what they termed an alternative ball on the lawns of Parliament House, complete with somber music, dancing black wraiths (representing fossil fuels, presumably), and koalas.
John Wurcker, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, stated that the government must prohibit fossil-fuel sponsorship of events and contributions to political parties.
“At the election, the Australian public conveyed a clear message that we demand real action on the climate crisis.
He stated, “What we see from the new administration is business as usual: inadequate targets, new fossil fuel projects, and a failure to rein in an industry that is driving us off a cliff.”