This was published 8 months ago
Katy Perry performed at lavish mansion party, but the PM just wanted to talk jobs
By Annika Smethurst and Angus Livingston
Global superstar Katy Perry popped into a suburban Melbourne house for a private backyard gig on Saturday night, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he used the party as an opportunity to speak to Australian food and beverage manufacturers about jobs.
The home was Visy billionaire Anthony Pratt’s mansion Raheen in Kew, which played host to a who’s who of Melbourne’s political and business circles as the pop star performed some of her biggest hits.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was spotted at the event, along with former premier Daniel Andrews. Albanese was asked about his visit to the mansion on Seven’s Sunrise, but said he was there to talk jobs.
“Well, I gave a speech last night at the food and beverage annual dinner. Last year, that was held in Sydney. This year was held here in Melbourne. It’s an annual event and it’s an opportunity to talk to manufacturers,” he said on Sunday.
“One of the things I want is a future made here in Australia. And last night, I was talking with Wesfarmers, Bundaberg [Brewed Drinks], Asahi, Arnott’s biscuits – all those fantastic Australian companies who make products here for domestic purposes but also export to the world.
“The good news that I got last night from many of the businesses was that they’re expanding their operations. That means more jobs here and it means our economy is more resilient here as well.”
Anthony Pratt hosted a party at his Melbourne mansion, Raheen, on Saturday.Credit: Nine News
Perry flew in from overseas for the gig, with clips posted on social media showing the pop star singing her trademark hits including Roar and Firework. She attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Sydney on Friday and is not performing any other shows in Australia.
A source inside the party, who spoke anonymously in order not to jeopardise relationships, said Albanese did not stay until the end of the event, which had about 220 guests and comedian Vince Sorrenti as the MC.
Police and private security blocked off a lane of Studley Park Road to ensure guests could arrive. There were two entrances: a side entry for the extra important VIPs who could avoid the cameras, and the front door for everyone else. A group of young Perry fans waited outside, trying to film her as she performed.
Albanese appeared at the corporate soiree in Melbourne the night after he watched Taylor Swift from VIP seats at her first Sydney concert, sparking some Coalition criticisms that the prime minister was prioritising big-name events over the cost of living.
“We warned Australians that electing Anthony Albanese could deliver a socialist Prime Minister, but none of us expected that we would get a socialite Prime Minister,” Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said.
Ley also knows her way around a social event. In January 2017, it was revealed she travelled twice to the Gold Coast at taxpayer expense for New Year celebrations in 2013 and 2014 hosted by a multimillionaire political donor and recruitment chief Sarina Russo, but argued she attended to discuss the government’s agenda.
Heloise Pratt was there at Raheen on Saturday night, but her partner Jon Stevens was absent due to work. A third Pratt sibling, Fiona Geminder, attended with her husband Raphael Geminder, and their daughters Georgia, Bella and Sammy, along with Georgia’s husband Matthew Danos.
Perry is not performing any other shows in Australia.Credit: Instagram/DJ Femme
Jeanne Pratt made an appearance, along with Heloise Pratt’s son Jake Waislitz and his partner Ava Fried.
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen was in the crowd along with cabinet colleague Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, as was former University of Melbourne chancellor Allan Myers, businessman Sir Rod Eddington, ANZ bank chief Shayne Elliott, investor Ashok Jacob, former Woodside and NAB chairman Michael Chaney, former Woolworths boss Roger Corbett and fast food billionaire Jack Cowin.
US ambassador Caroline Kennedy also attended, before flying back to Canberra on Sunday morning to attend a Bunnings sausage sizzle to promote the Shitbox Rally cancer fundraiser, in which she will take part.
Music promoter Paul Dainty and his wife Donna Dainty came along, as did Penny Fowler, who is an executive at News Corp and Rupert Murdoch’s niece.
The event – held in celebration of the food and beverage industry with which Pratt’s packaging company, Visy, does business – was due to be attended by outgoing Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci, but he pulled out as public scrutiny ramped up on alleged price gouging.
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