Canberra’s new hot couple kicked off a fiery Midwinters Ball on Wednesday night, with controversial – and thrifty – dresses capturing attention.
Josh Burns used the annual glitzy get-together to hard launch his long-rumoured relationship with Animal Justice League MP Georgie Purcell, who showed off her array of tattoos in a daring black gown with a thigh-high split.
The Jewish Labor MP recently separated from his wife, and sparked romance rumours with staunchly pro-Palestine Purcell in April.
Never one to shy away from controversy, Lidia Thorpe arrived in a pro-Palestine dress with the divisive phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ embroidered down the front. Her white frock also had a blood-stained look at the bottom.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée Jodie Haydon arrived just before 7.30pm and immediately began smiling and posing for photographs.
Keen to avoid negative attention during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis Mr Albanese wore a simple black suit while Ms Haydon upcycled her sparkling dress from 2022.
Melbourne designer Lucy Laurita restyled the dress with sustainable fashion in mind.
The couple walked straight to hug the Chalmerses before posing for more photos.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton was also present with his wife Kirilly, who was sporting a lightweight pink dress.
Jim and Laura Chalmers arrived arm-in-arm with Ms Chalmers in a baby blue dress with rhinestones.
Ms Chalmers poured her slender frame into a powder blue Rebecca Vallance gown worth a staggering $1,500.
The sleek number features a rounded neckline, cinched waist and princess seams to enhance her trim physique, before falling into a column skirt.
It appears Ms Chalmers wasn’t a fan of the original design and opted for alterations on the night, ditching the short cape sleeves which featured an embellished feather design.
The journalist opted to keep her accessories to a minimum at the event, carrying her valuables in a very pricey Celine clutch valued at $1,000.
Ms Chalmers appeared to finish her head-turning ensemble in a pair of Le Silla beige ‘Nicole’ pumps made from transparent mesh with a pointed-toe silhouette.
The Italian-made footwear adorned with sparkling crystals retail for $1,725.
Jaquie Lambie, who stole the show last year, looked ethereal yet again in a bedazzling blue gown, with her hair slicked up in a top knot while wearing a big chunky necklace.
She stopped halfway down the stairs and posed for photos.
Teal MP Monique Ryan came in rocking a teal dress, sticking to her colours.
Greens senators Larissa Walters and Dorinda Cox came with statements of their own, in the form of props brought along to the ball.
Ms Cox arrived in a black sequin dress with a purse printed with ‘Truth and Justice Now’ in reference to Aboriginal equality.
Ms Walters was spotted sporting some large pink earrings advocating for her pro-choice abortion stance.
The Midwinter Ball is one of few occasions politicians put their differences aside and come together to raise money for those in need, hobnobbing with corporate chiefs and journalists in the process.
The annual event signals the beginning of parliament’s long awaited five-week winter break.
This year Labor is hanging for the break provided by the ball more than usual, after the actions of first-term Senator Fatima Payman – and the prime minister’s handling of the incident – overshadowed the government’s long-awaited cost of living measures.
Ms Payman crossed the floor to side with the Greens on a motion to recognise the state of Palestine, setting into motion a chain of events which culminated on Sunday with her indefinite suspension from the partyroom.
Mr Albanese’s failure to decide upon her punishment swiftly dragged the chaos into a second sitting week.
And Ms Payman has enjoyed sweeping support for her decision outside of the Labor party, opting to vote with her conscience and risking her career in the process rather than toeing the party line.
The 29-year-old is weighing up her future.
Journalists have been frothing over the saga but none who appeared at the ball this year spent any time on the topic, instead opting to mingle with politicians.
ABC’s Annabel Crabb came in a short silver dress and Nine editors Tony Maguire and Luke McIlveen entered in low-key outfits for the occasion.
Some members have historically used the evening to make statements, like last year when Labor Senator Jana Stewart donned a white ballgown covered in passages from the Uluru statement.
In 2022, Greens Leader Adam Bandt’s partner Claudia Perkins was used as a billboard for her views on environmental policies, with giant lettering: ‘Gas kills, coal kills’.
That same year, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe stormed down the marble stairs in blue jeans and an Aboriginal flag t-shirt repeatedly screaming ‘fossil fools’ and extending her middle fingers to the assembled guests.
The Midwinter ball raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities each year, with $360,000 raised at last year’s event which has already been equalled this year.
Some notable charities who have received the funds in recent years are Rural Aid , OzHarvest, Fearless Women, Roundabout Canberra, Pink Elephants and the Ukrainian Crisis Appeal.
Notable absences at the 2023 event were Coalition Senator Jacinta Price and Senator Thorpe.