Rear Window
John Howard cans Christmas drinks
Myriam RobinRear Window editorIt’s a poor season for Christmas cheer in Sydney. Particularly in its more conservative circles.
First, Lachlan Murdoch cancelled his annual Bellevue Hill Christmas party; that gathering of conservative media, business and political elites that so fascinated paparazzos (and rival media operators).
John Howard is having emergency knee surgery. Alex Ellinghausen
Murdoch, it’s been reported, is in the United States, and hosting Sydney’s cocktail class is evidently no priority on whatever he’s doing.
Coming after News Corp’s HR emails regarding its corporate Christmas Party (warning staff that all workplace rules continued to apply), it’s been the season for, ah ... a proper and straight-laced adherence to corporate and legal obligations at the media empire.
Monday’s tidings brought further bad news. John Howard’s Christmas shindig, held in his office every year in Australia Square, is also a no-go. The 25th prime minister and Liberal Party godhead is undergoing knee surgery, and so will be unable to host the knees-up (geddit?) as intended on Tuesday night.
Though his people described it as a “postponement” rather than cancellation, which leaves open the possibility of rescheduling. If anyone can find the time.
A lot of Howard’s guests would also have been Murdoch’s. As far as hobnobbing goes, Christmas is proving dire for some.
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