No pandas on our Prime Minister's gift register

THE release of the Prime Minister’s gift register is always a fun time of year, even if Australia’s haul pales in comparison to some international politicians.

Before his rise to the top and while communications minister Melcolm Turnbull received some free internet stuff, a few tickets to the cricket, AFL, opera and some hotel upgrades. . Picture: Inga Williams

MALCOLM Turnbull better clean out the carport. An absolute avalanche of presents is on its way.

The release of the Prime Minister's gift register is always a fun time of year, even if Australia's haul pales in comparison to some of the bizarre things bestowed upon international politicians.

Former US president George W. Bush was once given about 150kg of lamb meat from the president of Argentina.

Russia's gremlin in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, took delivery of a puppy, a tiger and a Komodo dragon.

The ever-tricky US president Richard Nixon got two pandas - Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing - from the government of China in 1972, in exchange for a couple of oxen.

Our own erstwhile PM Tony Abbott's list was fairly tame, considering. Since rising to the top spot at the stubby end of 2013, Abbott received a Chinese scroll, a kangaroo leather jacket, more coins than he could poke one of his numerous fountain pens at and a bunch of fancy rugs.

Two swords were thrown in the mix - one from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and another from Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Anthony "the man" Mundine's best mate Danny Green chucked some signed boxing gloves the then-prime minister's way, and someone even built him a made-to-order chair.

A pair of RM Williams boots made the list, alongside a stack of business shirts, perfectly offset by a set of silver cufflinks from US Secretary of State John Kerry.

It seems everyone wants to get the top dog drunk, and dozens of expensive wine bottles were thrust upon Abbott, along with a top-notch decanter to capitalise on their creamy sumptuousness with hints of gooseberries, or whatever.

A couple of bicycles came his way, along with a generous portion of form-fitting lycra clothing, and a "beautifully decorated" surfboard.

Not sure if most of the generous donors were aware, but a fair portion of the gifts were surrendered to parliament because they were too expensive to fall within the allowable price limits. Still, Abbott did okay.

Turnbull's catalogue of spoils was just pathetic.

The former communications minister fittingly received some free internet stuff, a few tickets to the cricket, AFL, opera and some hotel upgrades. A depressing and entirely too skimpy swag for the man that would be king.

Fortunately, the list showed he was not struggling financially.

Between him and his wife after the last election, ol' Blue Eyes had a portfolio of nine properties, including a farm in the Hunter Valley and a swanky New York apartment. So there should be plenty of garages to house that incoming booty.

Seriously though. What the heck would you do with a Komodo dragon?

(Strange Politics is a satirical column. Follow Chris Calcino on Twitter: @ChrisCalcino)

STRANGE POLITICS with Chris Calcino

Originally published as No pandas on our Prime Minister's gift register