Say yes to the dress? In the night of nights of politics as Labor senator rocks to Midwinter Ball in the dress of the native fashion brand adorned with calls for Aussies to vote for The Voice
Canberra’s social event of the year has kicked off, with a Labor senator making it very clear which side she will be on in the Voice to Parliament.
Labour’s Jana Stewart wore a flowy one-shoulder dress on Wednesday night, covered in passages from Uluru’s declaration to the annual Midwinter Ball.
The ball, where MPs and senators try to disprove the theory that politics is show business for ugly people, began in 2000 and is hosted by the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Senator Stewart’s dress was complemented by a crimson velvet cape emblazoned with “Yes” in large white letters.
“Wearing this dress is an opportunity to carry my values and have conversations in circles that don’t necessarily look at parliament,” Senator Stewart said.
Labor Senator Jana Stewart (pictured) wore a flowing white dress covered in passages from the Uluru Declaration to Wednesday night’s annual Midwinter Ball — it was fringed with a crimson velvet cape that read “Yes” in large white letters.
Senator Stewart’s dress was covered in passages from the Uluru Declaration – a precursor to the referendum on an Indigenous vote in parliament (pictured)
The dress, which was designed by Aboriginal social enterprise Clothing the Gaps, required a team of four to help her put it on.
Clothing the Gaps co-founder Laura Thompson is Senator Steart’s plus one and will help carry the dress’s long train.
“Jana and her dress will stop people on their Instagram scroll,” Ms. Thompson said Nine newspapers.
“Hopefully people will decide to learn more (about the Voice).”
On Monday, Anthony Albanese’s voice cracked with emotion as he announced that between October and December Australians will have a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to improve the lives of First Nations people.
The referendum aims to establish an Indigenous body to advise Parliament on issues facing Aboriginal Australians. It will also enshrine First Nations People in the Constitution.
“Where’s the downside here?” the prime minister asked. “What are people risking here? From my perspective, this is all positive.’
Mr Albanese is expected to attend this evening – despite his complaint that the glittering social event clashes with the must-win State of Origin match for NSW.
“The media also have a lot to answer for because I won’t even see it live on TV because the Press Gallery, in all their wisdom, has the Midwinter Ball where I have to speak,” he joked. earlier this week.
“This is an act of cruelty and it is very unfortunate in terms of timing.”
Senator Stewart clearly took inspiration from last year, when Senator Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens arrived in a long white dress with ‘End gas and coal’ written on the back – a direct criticism of the 2022 sponsors, Shell and Woodside Energy .
Greens MP Adam Bandt and his partner Claudia Perkins also caused a stir last year, the first since 2019 due to Covid.
Mrs. Perkins had “coal kills” and “gas kills” written in black and red across her otherwise white dress.
The posts were thought to have been inspired by US Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021, who wore a striking white dress with “Tax the Rich” written on it.
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