WITH not a smidgen of scandal, outrageous behaviour or inappropriate attire, the 2014 Midwinter Ball was a fairly low-key affair where the most important thing was whether PM Tony Abbott could make us laugh and could Opposition Leader Bill Shorten match or better the memorable Julia Gillard performances.

Well, it was Shorten by a short half head on the night and Julia still leading the race.

The décor was Gatsby inspired but it, too, was low key in comparison to a Baz Luhrmann production, and the best dressed on the night were the waiting staff in a Hollywood wardrobe of flapper frocks while most of the VIP ladies, Liberal and Labor opted for black, eschewing the opportunity to stand out in the crowd. But Erin Molan was lovely in lace accompanying her dad Jim Molan (Maj-Gen retired) and ever elegant Suzie Mostyn in black with deco bling and Helen McCabe a class act.

Standing out though was Clive Palmer for obvious reasons, and that larger-than-life attitude to convention as he chewed the ear of ABC chairman James Spigelman, but flying solo, like so many who work and play in this house of power and persuasion.