Penny Wong Tries And Fails Not To Take Best Woman Speech Too Far

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Senior members of the Labor Left were left shifting in their seats today after Senator Penny Wong delivered a Best Woman speech at the Prime Minister's wedding reception in Canberra that went significantly further than colleagues had hoped for.

Guests at the reception say Senator Wong had been quietly advised by figures such as Doug Cameron and Tanya Plibersek to keep her remarks light and avoid straying into factional folklore. Senator Wong told the table she understood completely and had prepared "something sweet and simple."

Within moments of taking the microphone, however, the Foreign Minister began recounting what she described as a pivotal moment in Anthony Albanese’s early political life. The story centred on the long running proposal to convert Marrickville Golf Course into a nine hole layout and concluded with Mr Albanese and current Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne allegedly dangling a Greens councillor over the side of the Wardell Road bridge, which links Marrickville and Earlwood across the Cooks River.

Senator Wong told the room that the incident illustrated the Prime Minister's calm under pressure. She said the idea had been "mostly Darcy's" and added that the Mayor had been "quite prepared to let the councillor meet the river." She said it was a testament to Mr Albanese's negotiation skills that he was able to talk Mr Byrne out of throwing a sitting councillor off a bridge into the most polluted river in the city. She assured guests the councillor was never in danger and said the episode showed "a leader who achieves outcomes for all".

Several guests from interstate were observed glancing around the room for clarification. Attendees with knowledge of inner west politics appeared less surprised and more resigned to hearing the story told publicly for the first time.

One guest said they had expected a light tribute to the bride.

"Penny said she would keep it brief," said the attendee.

"Then she started explaining Darcy’s state of mind on the bridge. Classic best person speech. Always about something them and groom have got up to."

The Prime Minister smiled politely throughout the speech while Jodie Haydon was seen nodding along with what appeared to be equal parts pride and surprise.

The speech concluded to strong applause, although several senior public servants were later seen checking whether any part of it required follow up under ministerial standards.

More to come.