The Midwinter Ball is Parliament House's social night of nights. Each year politicians and journalists throw on their best black tie gown and suits to enjoy a fancy dinner, heaps of booze, awards, speeches and to watch politicians auction themselves off for charity.
1. A personalised tour of Parliament House with Malcolm Turnbull for four people, including morning tea in the prime minister's office. Hopefully he'll crack out the red teapot.
Turnbull's tour and tea is part of the "Canberra Secrets: Politics, Art & War" auction item. The winners will start their day with the PM before getting private, behind the scenes tours of the National Art Gallery and the Australian War Memorial.
Rumour has it this tour includes the National Gallery of Australia's private collection and the war memorial's Mitchell storage facility.
2. Business class return flights to America where you'll hang out with Julie Bishop and "Hollywood stars" ... fingers crossed it's Chris Hemsworth.
Two people will get two star-studded nights in the US, a dinner at Curtis Stone's restaurant, Gwen, with director Brett Ratner and "Hollywood stars", and a night walking the red carpet as a "VIP" at the G'Day USA Gala.
Qantas is throwing in the business class flights and accommodation.
This item's one to watch. Bishop pulled in the biggest bid at last year's ball with $35,000 for her New York dinner with Hugh Jackman and Deborah-Lee Furness at Robert De Niro's Nobu restaurant.
3. A run with Bill Shorten and breakfast with Tanya Plibersek.
4. Lunch or dinner for four with Fiona Nash.
The deputy leader of the Nationals will shout you and your friends dinner at a "top notch restaurant" in either Canberra or regional NSW.
Not much detail on this one, but maybe you can convince Nash to bring her dog Jed!
5. Qantas business class return trips to London or New York.
But the ~ultimate prize~ (not really) for political nerds is the three course dinner (and heaps of booze) for six with press gallery journalists Malcolm Farr, Mark Riley, Sue Dunlevy and Laura Tingle.
