Julie Bishop and Prince Charles go to Vanuatu

Prince Charles and Julie Bishop flew off to Vanuatu this weekend, far away from the Games and leadership speculation.

Prince Charles and Julie Bishop visit a market in Port Vila. Picture: AFP

Julie Bishop had some right royal company this weekend, with Prince Charles joining her on a tour of Vanuatu. The pair popped over to the small island nation on Saturday. It gave the heir to the throne a break from the Commonwealth Games and it gave Bishop a chance to get as far away from leadership speculation as possible. Vanuatu has struggled in the years following 2015’s Tropical Cyclone Pam but they put on quite a show for the Prince of Wales and the Queen of the Liberals. Bishop and His Royal Highness toured the rebuilt Vila Central Hospital where a little boy named Samson took a particular shine to Australia’s glamorous chief diplomat. Charles bought some trinkets in the local markets, which are also just back on their feet after the cyclone. Here’s hoping he got something nice for Camilla, who’s returned to Britain. The trip’s highlight was a royal kava-drinking ceremony, the first attended by a British royal since 1974, where Charles was named an honorary high chief. Hopefully, Bishop made it clear that Charles won’t be getting any such honours back here in Oz. We all know how Prince Phillip’s knighthood turned out.

Seaside Shorten

Bill Shorten celebrated in Perth yesterday the impending arrival of the 30th Newspoll in a row that wasn’t his problem. He got a sneaky beer in with West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and family at The Cruising Yacht Club in Rockingham, right near the beach. Shorten might have to return to Rockingham Beach soon if his member for Brand Madeleine King is forced to a by-election over citizenship issues. And who wouldn’t want to go back? Strewth has very fond memories of Rockingham Beach — like the night we saw a massive gang brawl there. Good times.

Tony rides on

Tony Abbott’s annual Pollie Pedal stopped off at St Kilda Football Grounds in Moorabbin yesterday. The Pedal’s main charity partner for the past two years has been Soldier On, a group aimed at highlighting the issues faced by modern-day veterans. Soldier On has also recently partnered with St Kilda Football Club, who unfortunately got clobbered by Adelaide on Saturday. Abbott said he had a chat with St Kilda president Peter Summers after the loss. We’re sure that was comforting for Summers. It’s 21 years since the first Polly Pedal and they’ve raised a fantastic $6 million. Abbott was joined on the Pedal by his regular cycling mate Kevin Andrews who, by Andrews’ own infamous barometer during the gay marriage campaign, Abbott should be getting hitched to soon.

Pedal for placenta

One Pollie Pedal corporate sponsor really grabbed our attention yesterday — a group that sells sheep placenta cream. Chinese-owned company Chantelle Sydney was promoting its face mask, of which sheep placenta is the key ingredient, in Moorabbin yesterday. Yes, there are people who want you rub the placenta of a sheep all over your face. Chantelle Sydney chief Norman Li is riding with the Pedal gang and he told this august organ’s rural reporter Sue Neales that the sheep cream is very popular in China. Nobody else Neales spoke to seemed too keen to get on the ba-ba-bandwagon.

Batman remains

The federal seat of Batman will not be renamed after the next election, unlike a swag of other Victorian seats. Despite its namesake, John Batman, allegedly being a bounty hunter who specialised in killing Aboriginal people. Go figure.

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