Warm welcome for workers’ warriors

Cartoon: Rod Clement.

He’s on track to be our next prime minister, but Labor leader Bill Shorten is still shy about tucking his knees under the table of Australia’s richest family.

Just over six weeks from the federal election, Shorten last night entered the billionaire Pratt family’s historic mansion Raheen via the secret stable doors, a laneway entrance normally reserved for deliveries.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek is greeted at Raheen by Anthony Pratt, his mother Jeanne and wife Claudine Revere.

Maybe the leader of the worker’s party thought it was the tradesman’s entrance?

For Shorten, it was a return to the Melbourne home of the billionaire family’s matriarch Jeanne Pratt, her son Anthony Pratt and his partner Claudine, after a long absence.

The politician was previously a frequent guest via his first marriage to Debbie Beale, who was like a goddaughter to Jeanne and her late husband Richard Pratt.

Deborah Chemke and Mark Dreyfus

But last night Shorten was back in the Pratt fold, with the doors to their Kew home Raheen thrown open for a left-of-centre political fundraiser featuring a powerful clutch of Melbourne business types. Amazing how the sniff of victory can pull a crowd, even at $5000 a head.

While their leader didn’t want to be photographed, his deputy Tanya Plibersek arrived through Raheen’s imposing main gates to be greeted by her packaging hosts at the arched front door. Very civilised.

Senator Kim Carr.

Clare O’Neil had a bumpier entree. The shadow minister for financial services (a gig she is expected to lose when Katy Gallagher returns to the senate) and her VW family wagon were turned back at the Pratt’s threshold and directed to a car park on the street. Retiring Member for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby also drove himself in his Ford Territory.

Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks. Pictures: David Geraghty.

Rich-lister businessman Peter Scanlon was in for the night, as was former Tennis Australia chair Harold Mitchell and one-time Packer lieutenant and now Ellerston Capital chief Ashok Jacob.

Former Telstra chair Bob Mansfield and leading Melbourne lawyer Mark Leibler, both at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s fundraiser at Raheen a fortnight ago, were back to play the other side, as was rich-lister and Jeanne’s son-in-law Raphael Geminder.

Raphael Geminder. Picture: David Geraghty.

Former Victorian premier and industry super fund CBUS chair Steve Bracks came in a heavily tinted car with driver. Will Shorten soon make his New York dreams come true?

Outgoing Member for Lilley and Labor national president Wayne Swan, looking tanned and relaxed, was in bright and early, as was Member for Isaac Mark Dreyfus and Shorten’s good friend and now senator for Victoria Kimberley Kitching, who Margin Call awarded best dressed on the night in a classic navy wrap dress.

Kimberly Kitching. Picture: David Geraghty.

Howard’s way

Meanwhile in the Harbour City, Liberals travelled from far and wide to The Star to drop their knee before party deity John Howard at the Sydney Institute’s 30th black tie dinner.

The NSW Liberals’ new hero Gladys Berejiklian was also feted after her YouTube-supported victory over the weekend.

Former PM John Howard, Star Entertainment chair John O’Neill and Janette Howard. Picture: Jane Dempster.

Honestly, to go by the mood of the 900 assembled guests at Sydney Institute director Gerard Henderson’s marquee event, you would hardly guess the sons and daughters of Robert Menzies are on track for a stonking defeat at the May election.

NSW Liberal president Philip Ruddock had more than just Berejiklian’s victory to be happy about. Ruddock — and his suddenly vindicated strategist, NSW Liberal director Chris Stone — had as their guest billionaire Ros Packer.

They’ll hope Berejiklian’s victory inspires some Packer generosity to help out with their imminent showdown with Bill Shorten’s Labor.

Liberals were everywhere, as expected with the night’s keynote being given by Howard (who turns 80 in July).

Pharmacy Guild president David Heffernan, George Tambassis and former Liberal powerbroker Michael Photios.

There was premier-turned-NAB contender Mike Baird with Crown director Helen Coonan (a former Howard minister) and Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, employer of Baird’s uncommonly decent former chief of staff Bay Warburton.

Over on the Allens table were Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her much discussed Berejiklian minister partner Stuart Ayres (aka “the stadium strategist”).

Tim Wilson, one of the great hopes of the Moderates, was up from Victoria.

Tony Abbott excused himself from his life or death battle to hold Warringah to attend as guest of The Star’s chair John O’Neill, a fellow rugby union man.

Berejiklian was on the head table, next to former SBS boss Michael Ebeid, now an executive at the dinner’s key sponsor Telstra, and ABC director Joe Gersh (who is also on the Sydney Institute board).

Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh. Pictures: Jane Dempster

Acting ABC managing director David Anderson, the man most likely to be appointed by Gersh and the now Ita Buttross-chaired Aunty board, was also along, with ABC star Annabelle Crabb (who would make a superb replacement of Barrie Cassidy as Insiders host).

Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent his apologies. The PM was over in Perth, ahead of the billionaire Stokes’ Telethon. Also missing was James Ashby, who as we now know is the National Rifle Association’s secret agent in Australia. Ashby’s been along at the Sydney Institute annual dinner in recent years. Uncharacteristic for Pauline Hanson’s right hand man to miss a night on the sauce.