PM backed Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare, as did other politicians
Deputy PM Michael McCormack couldn’t help taking a dig at the former Labor leader.
“Who wants to tell Bill Shorten that the PM backed Vow and Declare?” gloated Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack to Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge in the minutes following the gelding’s Melbourne Cup win.
On this occasion, however, the former Labor leader had also backed a winner, having similarly put money on Vow and Declare. In fact, it was the pollies’ favourite horse with deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching also picking the winner.
Rolling up to the races with wife Chloe resplendent in royal blue, Mr Shorten appeared relaxed, but admitted that after his May election loss he was now “a little gun-shy about tipping”.
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Told his favoured horse was also the PM’s favourite, Mr Shorten protested that he is “a real punter”, whipping out a piece of paper on which he’d chosen his cup picks as proof.
It was a bipartisan affair in the Tabcorp marquee, Mr McCormack’s wife Cath chatting cordially to Chloe Shorten as her husband had a gentle dig at Mr Shorten.
Keen to ensure politicians weren’t the only celebrities on the scene, Mr Tudge brought “friend-of-a-friend”, former superstar West Indies batsman Brian Lara as his “date” for the day.
Federal cabinet was well represented, with Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Health Minister Greg Hunt, Education Minister Dan Tehan, NDIS Minister Stuart Robert and Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie all making appearances at Tabcorp alongside Mr McCormack and Mr Tudge.
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester, Assistant Minister for Children and Families Michelle Landry and NSW Liberal backbencher Jason Falinski were also present.
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