Photo: The ACT could be seen as a fashion Mecca by being less Parliament House and more Parliament Haus. (Australian Women's Weekly: AAP)
From Nick Bracks to Bridget Abbott, our nation's leaders are churning out genetically blessed progeny faster than you can say "Fairfax recount", writes Mike Nicholson.
They're hiding something from us in Canberra and parliamentary offices all over Australia, but it's not the highly anticipated autobiography of Chris Kenny titled "#TheirABC; Why I'm Always Right". Rather, it's the elixir of beauty and an ability to pass on phenomenal bone structure through one's family tree.
Hot on the Louboutin heels of Tony Abbott's daughters helping him win over the electorates of Australia, everywhere you look it appears to be in vogue for our genetically blessed politicians' children to be seen on the stages and catwalks of the world.
Victoria has two ex-premiers with sons carving a name in the fashion world: Nick Bracks, son of Steve, making a splash in underwear modelling; and Angus Kennett, son of always fashion conscious and Hawthorn jacket wearing Jeff, strutting catwalks for David Jones.
Meanwhile, decades ago former prime minister William McMahon's son Julian entered the modelling world before continuing on to forge a successful career in Hollywood. Our politicians are churning out genetically blessed progeny faster than you can say "Fairfax recount".
I think this is an untapped resource for our nation's capital. Imagine all the politicians with their aesthetically pleasing offspring flying in and out of 'Canberra' for label launches. The hottest property will be located in the 'meat packing district' of the Parliamentary Triangle or PaTri as the fashionistas on Constitution Avenue call it. The ACT will be seen as a fashion Mecca, rivalling London, Paris and Milan by being less Parliament House and more Parliament Haus.
Of course, the Abbott daughters foray into commercial agreements and magazine shoots for Harper's Bazaar Australia is not the first and certainly won't be the last of this type of business venture as Australia's obsession with treating our politicians as celebrity continues to evolve.
Kevin Rudd already appears to be selling his image to the makers of Milky Bar. It's the kind of image that advertising executives and brands love because they can have it for a while then get rid of it, then bring it back again, then get rid of it ... then bring it back again. Timeless.
Still in Queensland, but at a different end of the political spectrum, sources close to Clive Palmer say the always-straining-for-relevance Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) are believed to be close to signing on as the face of his Palmersaurus Resort. It's thought that deputy chairman of the ACL, Jim Wallace, felt that an old fossil and dinosaur attraction perfectly embodied the political beliefs of the ACL.
Back to the fashions, and the odds that one of the Prime Minister's "not bad looking" daughters could be considered as the face of a brand are probably quite good. I'm sure Tom Waterhouse is all over this. Even with all the glitz and glamour, the Abbotts appear to be taking all their newfound attention in their stride. Mr Abbott's middle daughter, Bridget, admitted last year that she doesn't "see modelling as a full-time career move" but is keen "to pursue opportunities if they arose and her father was supportive".
It's in their father's best interest that opportunities continue to arise for the ladies because then the Prime Minister can have a genuine reason to attend events, such as the races, all around Australia. These attendances would then result in a legitimate work expense claim being filed under the Abbott name, albeit Bridget's, Frances' or Louise's. Alternatively, we might see Tony Abbott turn up at Melbourne Fashion Week 2016. Luckily for him the location is in a seat held by a Green in much need of some Liberal campaigning.
Whether ex-politicians or current politicians' children are able to secure contracts with fashion labels, brands or events on their own merits or that of their parents' names, I don't see a problem with it. I just hope that if Abbott's daughters find themselves heading down the path of modelling that they don't suffer from a bad case of Derek Zoolander-itis and have trouble on the runways turning left.
Mike Nicholson is a 26-year-old media graduate from Adelaide, South Australia. View his full profile here.
Australia's next top political spawn - The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
