Gina Rinehart handholds Peter Dutton at her neon bush doof

Peter Dutton and Gina Rinehart. Anonymous

We should be unperturbed by now with elected MPs consorting with Rinehart. But this is Australia, where the leader of the opposition will smash up the prime minister for travelling to meet with key allies on trade and geopolitics, while in the same breath make a shameless chartered trip to grovel at the hand of Australia’s richest person. Sure, regular Aussies are in economic pain. Peter understands this. But the BBQ ribs are falling off the bone!

Former governor general Peter Cosgrove beamed in by hologram. There was also One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, adviser James Ashby, former federal resources minister Keith Pitt and Liberal National senator Susan McDonald. They were joined by Amanda Lacaze, who along with running Lynas, the rare earth metals business, sits on the Minerals Council. Plus, Mike Sneesby, CEO of Nine Entertainment, owner of this masthead, currently on an advertising roadshow around the Olympics.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas also donned the pink workwear. After winning a second term, Zempilas’ political ambitions are stark naked. But it’s seemingly not enough to have the patronage of just Kerry Stokes. Things are a lot easier when you are blessed by two billionaires in the state.

Zempilas took to the stage last night with Fat Cat, the loveable mascot of Seven West Media’s Telethon. That’s not even a joke.

At the end of the evening, attendees shuffled off to the Roy Hill airport to catch Qantas charter flights. Sitting on the tarmac was Gina’s G600 Gulfstream jet. A nice reminder that although you might be let into the inner circle, you’re still in cattle class.