Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Bandt’s partner Claudia Perkins each paid homage to US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by wearing dresses emblazoned with anti-gas and coal messages. Two large screens on either side of the stage displayed the logos of PayPal, Coca-Cola, Salesforce and Westpac, among others. Journalists were reminded that the companies sponsored “just 7%” of the entire ball and few jokes were levelled at them. They were joined by Greens Leader Adam Bandt and senators Lidia Thorpe and Jordon Steele-John. We got no closer to finding out which staffer was behind Sussan Ley’s abominable “It won’t be easy under Kermit the Froganese” social media video.Ĭrikey’s Landlord List: how many politicians own multiple homes? Read More >Ĭrikey also got a shout-out in ABC satirist Mark Humphries’ speech, with Humphries urging journalists at the charity event to “drop a coin in their hat” to help us in the legal fight against Lachlan Murdoch.Ī small gathering of Extinction Rebellion protesters gathered outside Parliament, demonstrating against sponsors of the ball including Shell and Woodside Energy, as well as lobbying groups Hawker Britton and Nexus APAC Group, who represent fossil fuel clients. Liberal staffers said they’d enjoyed Crikey’s Cam Wilson’s political landlords piece, comparing where ministers had ranked. Several politicians got wind of the theme early enough to plan their outfits: Senator Jacquie Lambie, independent Kate Chaney, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s partner Jodie Haydon all came in sequined dresses.īob Katter - who arrived without his wide-brimmed hat - asked if Crikey was “the TikTok app”.

The theme was disco, with disco balls on every table and hanging from every fixture, gold sequined tablecloths and disco queen Marcia Hines performing in a glittery jumpsuit. Journalists were told in opening addresses that finally, for once, it was a “night about us” (ignoring the scores of egomaniacal award ceremonies that take place every few months). The Midwinter Ball: self-described as the “premier social event on the political calendar”, it’s an evening for underpaid journalists to pretend, just for a night, that they earn anything close to a staffer’s salary.

Disco jumpsuit