As it happened: Climate 200 founder pays $15K for joyflight with Sussan Ley as Canberra hosts Midwinter Ball

Here’s where we end our rolling coverage today. Thank you for following, and please make sure to keep abreast of the latest national and global developments when we return tomorrow morning.

For now, here’s a look back at the day’s major stories:

• Canberra is putting on a show at the annual Midwinter Ball hosted by the Parliament House press gallery. It’s a night of both celebrations and fundraising for politicians, press, and those dying to be in the room with both.
• Former defence minister Linda Reynolds succeeded in her defamation case against her ex-staffer Brittany Higgins, in one of the most closely watched legal battles to flow from the Parliament House rape scandal.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected any link between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stinging attacks on Anthony Albanese and Australia’s decision to blame Iran for at least two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. It came after Iran denied it was behind the criminal attacks, and signalled retribution for Australia as its ambassador prepared to leave Canberra following his expulsion.
• The largest spike in the cost of coffee in a generation helped nudge the inflation rate to its highest point in a year, delivering the Reserve Bank a headache that may delay another interest rate cut.
• In Victoria, the hunt for the alleged gunman who killed two police officers in the state’s High Country has entered a second night. The slain officers were identified as a popular local detective on the verge of retirement, and a senior constable temporarily assigned to the alpine region. We are continuing our rolling coverage of that story in a dedicated live blog here.
• One girl has died, and almost a dozen other children are recovering in hospital after a school bus rolled near Geelong in Victoria.

Guests have moved indoors, where a Paul Keating impressionist kicked off the proceedings, taking aim at Canberra’s elite.

After, comedian Amanda Bishop was in full flight performing her impersonation of Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie.

As guests settle in for a night of entertainment, let’s have a look at the MPs who arrived for the event.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s chief political correspondent, Paul Sakkal, has won the Federal Press Gallery Journalist of the Year Award during tonight’s ceremony.

The judges said Paul was the standout candidate this year.

“Paul demonstrates a mastery of his craft, consistently breaking important stories across both sides of politics,” judges said in their remarks.

The panel was impressed by his classic political reporting covering a wide range of issues, setting the agenda and revealing internal policy developments that leaders from both sides did not want made public.

Recording star Kate Ceberano, accompanied by husband Lee Rogers, hand-embroidered messages into the hem of her dress: beauty, love and grace.

“We’re here to look, and we’re looking. We’re here to look and listen and be part of the environment the conversation, obviously, it’s about arts and culture, and we want to defend and protect the rights of IRL (in real life) and people who make it and create and write it,” she said.

Ceberano was a guest of Holly Rankin and her agency Sentiment, which aims to be a voice for culture.

Ceberano said her embroidery had a message: “It’s just a way of showing we are people in the business, putting hand fabrics, putting quill to paper, putting our voices to the stage, and it’s really got to be protected. Bless you. Thank you.”

Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil, stole the opportunity for a snap next to the Australian musical icon as the pair showed off similarities in their outfits.

The biggest names on the bill have arrived.

Prime Minister Albanese and his fiancée Jodie Haydon will occupy the centre of attention for much of tonight’s event, as journalists, lobbyists, and backbenchers jostle to get into the pair’s sphere as they make the rounds.

Hayden is wearing an Australian-designed and Australian-made gown for the event.

In consultation with stylist Donny Galella, the Carla Zampatti team reimagined their iconic red crepe waterfall dress especially for the occasion.

Labor MP Josh Burns and his partner, Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, have arrived with their plus one — a gorgeous baby bump.

Purcell is wearing a black Bec and Bridge silk gown, with thrifted accessories including trademark-purple heels.

She said she was feeling well, even after a 2am finish in the Victorian parliament in this morning’s wee hours.

Burns wears a black dinner suit, clip-on bow tie, and Zette shoes — importantly, leather-free.

Those shipping the cross-party relationship will remember the pair publicly debuted their romance at last year’s Midwinter Ball.

Anyone who follows national politics knows that Labor minister Dr Anne Aly has a striking fashion sense.

It seems this time around she may have a worthy contender in Ash Ambihaipahar, a new Labor MP who replaced former Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney (another Canberra fashionista) in the Sydney seat of Barton.