When it comes to the numbers, the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, is way out in front.
The competition between the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is red hot, with the frontbenchers battling it out for second and third spots.
The stakes are high and the pressure intense. It is not the political leadership up for grabs. Rather, the mantle of being the most sought-after in Canberra’s event of the year.
The Midwinter Ball is Canberra’s night of nights, and each year politicians offer themselves as part of the charity auction. Their generosity has contributed more than $2.8m to a number of charities since the ball began in 2000.
This year six charities, including the Luke Batty Foundation, which helps survivors of family violence, and Rare Cancers Australia, will benefit from the auction.
A number of politicians, including Coalition frontbenchers Abbott, Bishop and Turnbull, have put their hands up to be part of it, and as in politics, the competition is fierce.
The foreign minister’s offering is hard to top. She has put forward a dinner for two with herself, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness at New York restaurant Nobu. The celebrity haunt is owned by Hollywood great Robert De Niro and the deal includes business-class flights for two to New York.
Unsurprisingly the offer is beating all others. By Wednesday morning it had attracted 50 bids worth $25,300.
Breakfast at the prime minister’s residence in Sydney, Kirribilli House, has had a mid-morning rally attracting a flurry of bids to sit snuggly in second place with $9,100.
Dinner at Turnbull’s Canberra home, touted as “your own Kitchen Cabinet”, has attracted 12 bids worth $8,700, while a meal with opposition leader Bill Shorten and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has attracted two bids worth $5,100.
A dinner with Friday morning talk show favourites, leader of the House Christopher Pyne and shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese, has nudged past $4,100.
By Wednesday morning a few of the pollies’ auction items were yet to get off the mark but typically bidding heats up close to the deadline, which is at 5pm Canberra time.
Interested parties can bid here.
