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The Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Spike’ column previews an upcoming dinner address by Alan Jones: "It’s heartening to see last week’s claims that Alan Jones was "instructing" the PM on how to run the country haven’t dampened his obvious affection for senior Liberal Party ministers. An invitation to join a "celebration dinner" to mark Tony Abbott’s 10 years in Parliament lobbed on Spike’s desk yesterday. What made the invitation all the more tantalising (even though it was not actually addressed to us) was the news that the Parrot will be guest speaker at the dinner. For the bargain price of $50 a person, guests will dine in the salubrious surrounds of the Austrian Club in Frenchs Forest on June 9. The invitation implores people to "bring along your friends and colleagues and give your support to a great parliamentarian". Our calls to Abbott’s office yesterday requesting a few more details about what’s being planned for the big night (like whether Danna Vale will be jumping out of the celebration cake) failed to shed any more light on the affair. However, prospective attendees can get a taste of what to expect from Jones’s speech by reading a recent interview between the Parrott and Abbott on 2GB. Abbott was on Jones’s show spruiking his Pollie Pedal charity bicycle ride, which he is in the midst of. Jones introduced Abbott as "a remarkable man". "You’ve heard me say this before, I think we’re lucky to have people like this serving the public in politics," Jones gushed.
Spike also hears NSW Liberals sent out invitations weeks ago for the Prime Minister’s dinner. And who has been lined up as MC? Yes, that old tart himself, Jones, who will doubtless be scrupulous in his communications with the guest of honour, John Howard. The "special event" is a big Liberal fund-raiser, with people willing to shell out $8000 getting no less than a seat at the head table, a priority table elsewhere, and four invitations to pre-dinner VIP drinks. The cheap seats are $245 a piece for the gala dinner to be held in Sydney on May 20."