Australia politics live: author Anna Funder says she’s a ‘victim of crime’ as creatives lobby government to protect them from AI
Guardian AU
•Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:20:19 GMT
📰 What Happened
Canberra's annual Midwinter Ball brought together politicians, media figures, and dignitaries on 1 July 2026 for a night of socialising and networking at Parliament House. The event, a fixture on the political calendar, saw arrivals from across the political spectrum including Labor, Coalition, Greens, and crossbench MPs. Beyond the festivities, the day's political developments included the resignation of a Westpac director amid the widening KPMG scandal, the release of data showing Australia recorded its fifth hottest June on record, and an announcement that the NSW Icac would hold an inquiry into Liberal corruption allegations. In question time, Labor MP Gabriel Ng was ejected, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attacked the Coalition and One Nation as an 'axis of grievance'. The day also saw creative professionals lobby the government for protection against AI models hoovering up their work, with author Anna Funder describing herself as a 'victim of crime' after her work was broken down for parts by big tech companies.
🔍 The Backstory
The Midwinter Ball has been a staple of the Canberra political social calendar for decades, offering an informal setting where politicians, journalists, and lobbyists interact away from the adversarial atmosphere of Parliament. It typically occurs during the winter sitting period and has historically been a source of both camaraderie and controversy. The 2026 edition comes amid heightened political tensions, with One Nation's surging poll numbers, ongoing corruption inquiries, and growing public concern about the influence of AI on employment and creative industries.
🎯 Why It Matters
The Midwinter Ball serves as a barometer of Canberra's political mood, and this year's event unfolded against a backdrop of multiple escalating controversies — the KPMG scandal, corruption inquiries, and growing tensions over AI's impact on creative industries. The convergence of these issues underscores a period of intense scrutiny on both government and institutional integrity.
Canberra's annual Midwinter Ball brought together politicians, media figures, and dignitaries on 1 July 2026 for a night of socialising and networking at Parliament House. The event, a fixture on the political calendar, saw arrivals from across the political spectrum including Labor, Coalition, Greens, and crossbench MPs. Beyond the festivities, the day's political developments included the resignation of a Westpac director amid the widening KPMG scandal, the release of data showing Australia recorded its fifth hottest June on record, and an announcement that the NSW Icac would hold an inquiry into Liberal corruption allegations. In question time, Labor MP Gabriel Ng was ejected, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attacked the Coalition and One Nation as an 'axis of grievance'. The day also saw creative professionals lobby the government for protection against AI models hoovering up their work, with author Anna Funder describing herself as a 'victim of crime' after her work was broken down for parts by big tech companies.
The Midwinter Ball has been a staple of the Canberra political social calendar for decades, offering an informal setting where politicians, journalists, and lobbyists interact away from the adversarial atmosphere of Parliament. It typically occurs during the winter sitting period and has historically been a source of both camaraderie and controversy. The 2026 edition comes amid heightened political tensions, with One Nation's surging poll numbers, ongoing corruption inquiries, and growing public concern about the influence of AI on employment and creative industries.
The Midwinter Ball serves as a barometer of Canberra's political mood, and this year's event unfolded against a backdrop of multiple escalating controversies — the KPMG scandal, corruption inquiries, and growing tensions over AI's impact on creative industries. The convergence of these issues underscores a period of intense scrutiny on both government and institutional integrity.