And so to The Lodge, Canberra, for the most exclusive function of the festive season: The Prime Minister\u2019s Press Gallery Christmas drinks.<\/p>\n
Canberra being Canberra, where the fun can only ever be off the record, the whole event was governed by the Chatham House rule, which means attendees can report the details of an event but not the identities involved. But here at CBD we instead observe The Chatty House rule, so here\u2019s everything that happened. The event this year was pared down, without a marquee and held in the courtyard near the pool.<\/p>\n
When it was last held two years ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison <\/b>amped up the jokes with ScoMo curry boxes and a special cocktail \u2013 the ScoMohito. Alas this year it was beer, wine, sparkling and soft drinks.<\/p>\n
Gone was the mainstay canape of the Howard era, the mouth-scalding deep-fried camembert, replaced by prawns in pastry and deep fried. Sausage rolls, steak tartare and ceviche corn tortillas and festive-themed mini pavs and mince pies also featured.<\/p>\n
Ministers in attendance included Greg Hunt<\/b>, Anne Ruston<\/b>, Simon Birmingh<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Andrew Carswell delivered the Prime Minister\u2019s annual roast of journalists at the press gallery\u2019s Christmas party.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Illustration: John Shakespeare<\/cite><\/p>\n am<\/b>, Bridget McKenzie<\/b>, Marise Payne<\/b>, Michaelia Cash <\/b>and David Littleproud<\/b>.<\/p>\n This year the PM took a back seat in the traditional roast of press gallery journalists and handed the gig to Andrew Carswell, <\/b>his head of communications and media.<\/p>\n He cracked lots of jokes about the different bureaus, recounting how PMO spinners make their way through the hallways, popping into the ABC to speak to 7.30<\/i>\u2019s Laura Tingle <\/b>and get some tips on \u201chow we can do better\u201d, then onto The Guardian <\/i>to have a cup of green tea with Katharine Murphy<\/b>, to The Age <\/i> and The Sydney Morning Herald<\/i> to \u201cfind out what the Chinese have been up to\u201d and on to News Corp to deliver the daily drop.<\/p>\n The routine got plenty of laughs. By contrast, Morrison played it pretty straight with the usual Christmas wishes and acknowledgement of the challenging year in Parliament House.<\/p>\n ScoMo\u2019s parting shot was loaded with meaning: \u201cI look forward to seeing you all here next year.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking wounded among the ranks of Federal Parliamentarians this week.<\/p>\n Treasurer Josh Frydenberg <\/b>is sporting a splint after he was engaged in domestic duties changing sheets on a bed and borked the tendon of his middle finger.<\/p>\n Apparently the finger now looks like an extra from The Walking Dead<\/i>.<\/p>\n Senator Kimberley Kitching is recovering after her tangle with a snake.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Alex Ellinghausen<\/cite><\/p>\n And Victorian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching <\/b>was bitten on the hand by a venomous brown snake in Brimbank Park in Melbourne on the weekend when she was going to the defence of her beloved pooch Nancy-Jane. Luckily, it was a dry bite – which in reptile terms means the snake bit but didn\u2019t release any venom. But more on the dog: Kitching\u2019s cavoodle is named after former American First Lady Nancy Reagan <\/b>and US post-war actress Jane Wyman<\/b>, being respectively the second and first wives of former American President Ronald Reagan<\/b>. The pooch was named in acknowledgement of her previous cavoodle: Ronnie.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the latest with acclaimed\/controversial brain surgeon Charlie Teo<\/b>?<\/p>\n Readers will recall that after an emergency hearing, the NSW Medical Council has slapped conditions on Teo\u2019s registration, pending completion of an investigation.<\/p>\n The celebrisurgeon has been banned from performing any \u201crecurrent malignant intracranial tumour and brain stem tumour surgical procedures\u201d unless he obtains written approval from an independent neurosurgeon approved by the medical council.<\/p>\n Soon after that Teo skipped out of Australia in August for a grand tour commencing in Europe, first stop Germany, then onwards to the US.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Health Care Complaints Commission continues to investigate several complaints, including allegations of a lack of care for interstate patients who came up to Sydney for surgery from Melbourne.<\/p>\n The gallivanting Teo is spruiking his start-up brain-scanning Omniscient Neurotechnology, which aims to provide software to map and analyse the brain\u2019s networks.<\/p>\n And he\u2019s attracted fans. Prominent fund manager Will Vicars <\/b>has not only invested more than $10 million into Omniscient, he is also a director. Philanthropists Gretel Packer <\/b>and the Vincent Fairfax <\/b>family have each invested $2 million.<\/p>\n Other investors include former Vittoria coffee company co-owner Clelia Cantarella<\/b>, Gina Rinehart<\/b>\u2019s daughter Ginia <\/b>and property developer Phil Wolanski<\/b>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is revolutionary, what they\u2019re doing,\u201d Vicars recently enthused to the Australian Financial Review<\/i>.<\/p>\n Now, Teo has popped up in India, conducting a workshop for 39 surgeons in the city of Pune, according to the Hindustan Times.<\/i><\/p>\n But the paper was, in contrast to Vicars, more measured in its description of Omniscient, stating: \u201cHowever, being a new technology there is no guarantee and it is still developing.\u201d<\/p>\n A board meeting on Monday would have rated as one of those tough days in the office at Sydney\u2019s Aitken Investment Management. After all, investors – and the rest of the eastern seaboard – learned over the weekend to be true what they had been hearing for weeks: co-founder and chief investment officer Charlie Aitken<\/b> had split from co-founder wife Ellie Aitken <\/b>and was in a relationship with Hollie Nasser<\/b>, the wife of AIM investor and board member Chris Nasser<\/b>. A complete mess at home and at work and the ultimate nightmare in corporate governance. The pubs investor reportedly found out about his wife\u2019s relationship with Aitken around the Friday, November 12. He resigned as a director the next day and installed his younger brother Damien Nasser <\/b>in his place to keep watch over the family\u2019s significant investment in the fund manager. Those close to Nasser said he moved with speed to recuse himself in a bid to avoid any messy potential conflicts of interest around the board table. In a statement to media, Nasser didn\u2019t mince his words: \u201cWhile the affair has greatly impacted me and my children, it is a private matter and I do not wish to go into any detail about it.\u201d Safe to assume Monday\u2019s board meeting was … awkward.<\/p>\n AIM did not respond to questions on Tuesday. Damien Nasser did not respond to questions amid whispers they are considering divesting their stake. And who could blame the Nasser family from wanting a clean break with the fund manager?<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Charlie Aitken told investors last week he would take leave to attend to a \u201cpersonal matter\u201d while co-portfolio managers Etienne Vlok<\/b> and Dan Gerdis <\/b>would continue to run AIM\u2019s global high conviction fund. \u201cI thank you for your understanding and want to assure you that there is no interruption to the way your investment is managed by the team at AIM,\u201d Aitken said.<\/p>\n Which \u2013 if you ignore the departure of a board member and an icy atmosphere among staff who are still reeling over the affair \u2013 could almost be true.<\/p>\n The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. <\/i><\/b>Sign up here<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nLINE OF DUTY<\/h3>\n
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