Midwinter Ball: Anthony Albanese and politicians dress up for Canberra’s social event of the year
Say yes to the dress? A glimpse into the night of all nights of politics as the Senator arrives at Midwinter Ball in the native fashion brand’s dress adorned with calls for Aussies to vote for The Voice – and Anthony Albanese’s girlfriend Jodie rocks black number
Canberra’s social event of the year has kicked off, with a Labor senator making it very clear which side she will be on in the Voice to Parliament.
Labour’s Jana Stewart wore a flowing one-shoulder dress on Wednesday night, covered in passages from the Uluru Statement From the Heart to the annual Midwinter Ball.
The ball, where MPs and senators try to disprove the theory that politics is show business for ugly people, began in 2000 and is hosted by the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Senator Stewart’s dress was complemented by a crimson velvet cape emblazoned with “Yes” in large white letters.
“Wearing this dress is an opportunity to carry my values and have conversations in circles that don’t necessarily look at parliament,” Senator Stewart said.
Labor Senator Jana Stewart (pictured) wore a flowing white dress covered in passages from the Uluru Declaration to Wednesday night’s annual Midwinter Ball — it was fringed with a crimson velvet cape that read “Yes” in large white letters.
Senator Stewart’s dress was covered in passages from the Uluru Declaration – a precursor to the referendum on an Indigenous vote in parliament (pictured)
The dress, which was designed by Aboriginal social enterprise Clothing the Gaps, required a team of four to help her put it on.
Clothing the Gaps co-founder Laura Thompson is Senator Steart’s plus one and will help carry the dress’s long train.
“Jana and her dress will stop people on their Instagram scroll,” Ms. Thompson said Nine newspapers.
“Hopefully people will decide to learn more (about the Voice).”
Anthony Albanese posed for the event in his black tie with his partner Jodie Haydon, who wore a long-sleeved black frilly dress paired with a gold chain and matching clasp.
“A great night raising money for Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra,” Albanese tweeted.
His smile belied his earlier irritation that the glittering social event clashes with NSW’s State of Origin game to win.
Anthony Albanese posed in his black tie with his partner Jodie Haydon, who wore a long-sleeved black frilly dress paired with a gold necklace and matching clasp (pictured)
Opposition leader Peter Dutton and his wife Kirilly Dutton arrive at the Midwinter Ball
“I know they say politicians are out of touch. How inaccessible are the National Press Gallery they put up at the Midwinter Ball when Parliament ends at 8pm, right at kick-off?’, he lamented earlier this week.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t hold it last week.”
The die-hard Rabbitohs supporter won’t try to sneakily stream the game live from his phone, despite knowing it’s do-or-die for NSW.
“The media also have a lot to answer for because I won’t even see it live on TV because the Press Gallery, in all their wisdom, has the Midwinter Ball where I have to speak,” he said. .
“This is an act of cruelty and it is very unfortunate in terms of timing.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton arrived with his wife Kirilly Dutton, wearing a midnight blue dress with a glittering blazer.
Senator Stewart clearly took inspiration from last year, when Senator Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens arrived in a long white dress with ‘End gas and coal’ written on the back – a direct criticism of the 2022 sponsors, Shell and Woodside Energy .
Greens MP Adam Bandt and his partner Claudia Perkins also caused a stir last year, the first since 2019 due to Covid.
Mrs. Perkins had “coal kills” and “gas kills” written in black and red across her otherwise white dress.
The posts were thought to have been inspired by US Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021, who wore a striking white dress with “Tax the Rich” written on it.