Midwinter Ball 2026 live: Politicians and their partners let their hair down in ballgowns and black ties for Canberra’s top gala event – as one of Anthony Albanese’s critics makes winning bid in charity auction

Ms Chalmers arrived in an Rebecca Vallance Evolet pink one-shoulder gown, which retails for about $1,100 – but is currently on sale for half that.

She ditched her traditional designer wardrobe for Budget night earlier this year, and instead turned up in a $119 cost of living crisis-inspired dress from Zara.

The mother-of three has been slammed in previous years over her ‘tone deaf’ outfit choices – including wearing an almost $2000 ensemble to her husband’s 2024 Budget speech, which addressed families struggling to make ends meet.

Last year, she toned it down and arrived at Parliament House in a modest black dress worth $329.95 by Melbourne-based fashion designer Mossman.

This year, the former political adviser-turned magazine editor went a step further by donning an even more affordable brown midi dress from fast fashion retailer, Zara.

As her husband told Australians about how sweeping changes to property rules would make the tax system fairer, Ms Chalmers sat in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night wearing a polyester blend with gold buttons and a matching belt.