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Filed under: Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull, Politics

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HE may have strangled the Aussie language but Kevin Rudd remains an overwhelming favourite with punters according to the poll that really matters - the Press Gallery Mid Winter Ball eBay auction.

If the PM asks for sandwiches, you should bring them immediately.

The Prime Minister and his would-be assassin, Malcolm Turnbull, along with the globe-trotting Julia Gillard, have “donated” themselves as part of the Ball’s efforts to raise funds for a raft of charities.

Just over 48 hours before Canberra’s night of nights, the PM holds a handy lead over his two"rivals” - with a mystery punter bidding over $15,000 to have dinner with the country’s leader.

The Liberal leader with a personal fortune estimated at $178 million was sitting at $7100, while the Deputy Prime Minister was languishing in third spot at $5500.

Now in its 10th year, the Ball has raised $1 million-plus for charity. Despite the economic doom-and-gloom, some of the country’s leading corporate firms have again stumped up funds to sponsor this rarest of events - an evening of frivolity where the nation’s top MPs lay down their swords.

The PM, Mr Turnbull and Ms Gillard have been strong supporters of the Ball - and this year they are going further in an effort to bump up charity proceeds.

Fancy an evening at the Lodge or Kirribilli? Or a private dinner with either Ms Gillard or Mr Turnbull at one of Canberra’s finest restaurants?

The three political figures are offering themselves to the highest bidders - all in the name of charity.

Dinner with the PM went for a tad over $22,000 last year and the Ball’s organisers are hoping to better this - despite the economic meltdown.

Log onto www.ebay.com.au/charity to follow the action. The auction closes at 5pm on Wednesday.

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Most commented

429Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself

390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin

333Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer

313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking

265Who murdered the Arts degree?

246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...

231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

1 comment

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- natalie Woodley says:
  
  08:02pm | 10/12/09
  
  Nothing to do with this article, presently listening to you on Sky News Agenda, “sage words of Penny Wong”, anyone who quotes a word that ignoramus utters, they have a real problem.
  
  We are not all ignorant and “lemmings” out here, some actually heard what Barnaby Joyce actually said, NOT YOUR DELIBERATE MISREPRESENTATION.
  What he said was, Australia was built on Foreign investment, what we should not be doing was selling off Australia,s in the ground investments to the GOVERNMENTS OF OTHER NATIONS, The U,S,A is facing that problem presently with China and Saudi Arabia having them on the financial hook.
  Have just heard you people laughing at the anything but classy skit performed at the alcaholics 80th last evening, the fact that any of you should find it something to laugh about demonstrates what F…WITS you are and
  where your bias is. get out of your Canberra vacuum, come into the reality of the real world where most of us live. Go to Andrew Bolts blog and see what so many think of that classless, typically Labour event, PIGS AT THE TROUGH, and you idiots laughed , obviously found it amusing, seriously what does it say about you?
  
  Reply