Australia’s media elite anoint Albo: Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons party with Labor leader and a Who’s Who of Sydney including The Project stars and Magda Szubanski
- Media Twitterati gathered at the couple’s harbourside mansion for annual party
- Labor leader Antony Albanese and his girlfriend Jodie Haydon topped guest list
- It was seen as a clear endorsement of the Opposition leader as the next PM
- Left-leaning revellers included ABC journalists and stars from Network Ten
Labor leader Antony Albanese and his girlfriend Jodie Haydon were guests of honour at Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons’ glitzy star-studded shindig at the weekend.
The celebrity couple previously threw a regular Australia Day party at their palatial North Shore mansion until the annual event was derailed by the pandemic.
But now it has returned, rebranded in 2020 as an Independence Day party in honour of FitzSimons’ Republican movement – and pushed back a month to February 26.
A Who’s Who of Sydney’s progressive media elite queued up to get in at the sprawling harbourside home, including comic actor Magda Szubanski, stars from Ten’s The Project and ABC journalists.
But one notable omission was ABC’s Q+A host Stan Grant after he mercilessly mocked the get-together in print last year.
Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons (pictured) threw their glitzy star-studded shindig at their palatial home on Sydney’s North Shore weekend
Labor leader Antony Albanese and girlfriend Jodie Haydon (pictured) were guests of honour
Grant branded the parties ‘a woke lefty love-in’ of ‘journos, actors, writers, a couple of ex-Wallabies, a few washed-up politicians…and a former managing director of the ABC’.
Saturday’s party guest list list largely matched Grant’s predictions, according to The Australian’s Media Diary, and even included former ABC MD Mark Scott.
Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon joined NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns at the resurrected event, in what was seen as a clear signal of support for Labor.
Both Wilkinson and FitzSimons have been strident critics – through their roles on The Project and in the Sun Herald – of PM Scott Morrison and the Coalition government.
One notable omission was ABC’s Q+A host Stan Grant (pictured) after he mercilessly mocked the get-together in print last year
Guests included pregnant Sunday Project panellist Jan Fran (pictured)
Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg (pictured) was also at Saturday’s shindig
ABC names were said to include Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan (pictured)
They were also joined by Ten talent including Wilkinson’s Sunday Project co-hosts Hamish Macdonald and pregnant panellist Jan Fran, as well as Chris Taylor and Osher Gunsberg.
The Australian reported other guests included ex-Sydney Morning Herald editor Lisa Davies, investigative reporter Kate McClymont, columnists Jacqueline Maley and Jane Caro, as well as outspoken former columnist, Mike Carlton.
ABC names were said to include The Drum host Julia Baird, One Plus One host Kurt Fearnley, and Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan.
Also among guests was the bandana-wearing former Wallaby’s daughter, Billi FitzSimons.
Other Ten talent included Wilkinson’s Sunday Project co-hosts Hamish Macdonald (pictured)
NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns (pictured) joined his Federal leader at the harbourside party
ABC’s The Drum host Julia Baird (pictured) was also said to be on the glitzy media guest list
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