Bob Hawke Coffee Mug

The secret politician's ball Not many people know this but Australian politicians celebrate the end of the parliamentary sitting year at the secret politician's ball. Held at an undisclosed location, politicians, past and present, look forward to the event and some have been known to spend their entire tenure of the back benches, planning their costume (it is a little known fact that Kevin Rudd actually stepped down in 2010 so that he would have more time to plan for this year's event) For one night, the weighty responsibility of running the country and internal party rivalries are put aside and the politicians let their hair down but make no mistake, the one upmanship continues in a different form as they compete to be see who will wear the most outrageous and lavish costumes. This year's theme 'born to rule' was met with a chorus of bipartisan support when it was announced but Joe Hockey did have to take Tony Abbott aside and tell him that no, he could not wear his 'normal' clothes which begs the question what did Tony mean by normal clothes, suits or budgie smugglers? This year's ball was not without controversy. Julia Gillard - one of the few politicians to not be invited, turned up, just after the saveloys were served saying that she'd stepped out to get some milk for Tim's tea and seen the lights on. Personally I believe her but the notion of her wearing an Elizabethan period dress while she nipped down to the local 7 day, caused many tuts and a few raised eyebrows. Such is the glitz and glamor of federal parliament - Don't blame me, you voted for them.