I didn't hear anybody bring up the Prime Minister's resignation from Slater & Gordon, nor the Craig Thomson or Peter Slipper affairs – although that could have occurred while I was out of earshot. However, I heard women use the opportunity to talk about other issues that matter to them: sexism at work, getting ahead in their career, childcare, and how having a female prime minister has changed the perspective among some young girls about what opportunities and careers they can pursue...
...Following the event I was asked by some people, including a radio journalist, if I felt part of the 'strategy', and, cynically, if anyone had discussed policy during the drinks. That struck me as odd – particularly in a year like this when political journos and those in the press gallery appear to have spent more time discussing everything other than policies.
Know the sad thing about all this? If the Homewrecker had invited, ahem, quality journalists instead of over-hyped kitchen-table keyboard ticklers, they would not have asked about those scandals either.
UPDATE: In comments The Irish Lion observes:
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, last night hosted a gathering of well-known men for Christmas drinks at the Lodge. The select all-male group comprised mainly Rugby players, conservative bloggers and Christian lobbyists and included Alan Jones, Larry Pickering and Andrew Bolt.
After a hearty meal of barbequed endangered species, Tony and the boys retired to the snooker room to quaff port, smoke cigars and ponder the thorny social issues of our time, including “how to get more men on company boards” and “why are we wasting so much money on the Arts”.
Doesn’t read well, does it?
