The Sauce: Peter Dutton and Tanya Plibersek: federal politics’ most unlikely smooch
It was sight many would never have predicted — Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Labor’s Tanya Plibersek puckering up for a kiss. READ WHY HERE. Plus: Which federal pollie was excluded from a dinner with her colleagues?
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We’re calling them Panya: the hottest new couple in Canberra.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has puckered up to Labor’s Tanya Plibersek — for a hefty price.
OK, so it’s not actually a romance. But the federal parliamentarians did agree to a not-so-meaningful kiss on the cheek to raise $5000 at the Surry Hills and Sydney City Police and Community Gala Ball on Friday night.
To a giant roar from the room, Dutton planted one on Plibersek after MC Ben Fordham asked guests: “Do we wanna raise $5000 on the spot right now? If I donate $1000 right now and then four other people put up their hand, I’m sure that Tanya Plibersek and Peter Dutton will give each other a peck on the cheek.”
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Plibersek was quizzed on her Dutton knowledge. First question: Dutts’ favourite movie. “I think I do know this one, actually — it’s Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” Plibersek said.
Next up, what’s his favourite pastime? “Taxidermy.”
And what would you find in Dutton’s internet search history?
He’s a “huge fan of kitten videos”, Plibersek said.
The ball, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, raised more than $100,000 for the Sony Foundation and other charities.
RING, RING: ICAC CALLING
Poor Jamie Clements has endured the modern horror of being phoneless for a few days.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption took it after the former NSW Labor boss’s appearance at this week’s hearing into alleged Chinese donations.
Clements first asked Chief Commissioner Peter Hall QC if he could text his wife to tell her he’d be incommunicado, and our snouts tell us it later left him unable to check into his accommodation.
The following morning when a different mobile was left in the security screening area, a sheriff asked: “Excuse me folks is anyone missing a phone?”
“Yes,” Clements piped up hopefully.
NOT PAULINE’S PARTY
Lady lawmakers gathered for the inaugural Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference in Adelaide this week, and after the official proceedings a group of independents and minor party MPs — both state and federal — got together for dinner to swap war stories.
Warringah independent Zali Steggall, Reason Party leader Fiona Patten and Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie were all there and Jacqui Lambie was invited but sadly couldn’t attend.
And where was Pauline Hanson? Not invited, we hear.
“We didn’t think she’d be much fun,” said one source
CITY SLICKERS, US?
The NSW National Party is throwing a 100th birthday bash … in Sydney.
The party of weatherboard and iron is apparently more at home at the SCG, which is where Saturday night’s knees-up happened.
The location was chosen by the NSW National Party office, which critics like to deride as uber-woke “urban Nats” more interested in city issues than the bush.
Can’t think why.
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Originally published as The Sauce: Peter Dutton and Tanya Plibersek: federal politics’ most unlikely smooch