Politicians dress up for Canberra’s night of nights – as it happened

Liberal members Melissa Macintosh, Melissa Price, Sussan Ley and Zoe McKenzie arrive for the 2023 midwinter ball at Parliament House in Canberra. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

11.40am BST

What we learned: Wednesday 21 June

Thanks for following today’s action, but with that, we’ll wrap up our live coverage.

Guardian Australia’s Mike Bowers is on the ground taking photos of the midwinter ball in Canberra tonight, and you’ll be able to see more of his pictures shortly.

For the evening’s other big event, you can check out our State of Origin live blog here.

Here’s a summary of the day’s main news:

• Pressure is mounting on the Greens to support Labor’s housing fund after the party’s calls for state governments to impose rent freezes and increase caps were roundly rejected by east coast leaders.

• Consulting firm PwC engaged in a “calculated” breach of trust by using confidential information to help its clients avoid tax and engaged in a “deliberate cover-up” over many years, a Senate committee has found.

• Linda Burney says the Indigenous voice will not bother itself with “culture wars” like abolishing Australia Day as she launched an impassioned plea for voters to support the referendum.

• The Greens may support the Coalition’s bill to limit gambling advertisements, potentially teaming up again after blocking Labor’s housing bill earlier this week.

• The New South Wales corruption watchdog will hand down its much-anticipated and long-delayed report into former premier Gladys Berejiklian next week.

• Suggestions of a “cover-up” over the tasering of a 95-year-old grandmother have been rejected by the NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, after the premier was forced to defend his minister’s handling of the situation.

Thanks for reading. We’ll be back to do it all over again tomorrow.

Updated at 11.44am BST

11.34am BST

It’s another former deputy prime minister!

Here is the Nationals MP Michael McCormack striking an eerily similar look to Barnaby Joyce earlier on. MicMac is also wearing a healthy grin and a sharp black tuxedo as he moves through the entrance to parliament with his wife, Catherine, who is also in a stylish ensemble.

Michael and Catherine McCormack. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

This picture courtesy of Guardian Australia’s own Mike Bowers. He has also snapped this photo that provides an insight into Anthony Albanese’s inner circle. Pictured here is the PM’s press adviser Brett Mason with the PM’s bagpipe-playing speechwriter James Jeffrey, channelling a yin and yang energy, with junior PM press adviser Dean Sherr in the background.

Brett Mason, James Jeffrey and Dean Sherr from the Prime Minister’s Office. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated at 11.38am BST