Christopher Pyne and Amanda Vanstone (Adelaide)

Christopher Pyne is one of the most legendary dinner companions in the Liberal Party. The problem is, Pyne can’t cook. Luckily his oldest friend and political mentor - former Howard Government minister Amanda Vanstone is a dynamo in the kitchen. Shadow Minister and Manager of Opposition Business Christopher Pyne teams up with his political mentor and great friend Amanda Vanstone to discuss his start in politics. Alarmingly, this occurred at age seven, apparently after swimming in Amanda’s pool. Later, Christopher worked for Amanda, then won a South Australian seat in a memorably bloody encounter. Over lunch, Christopher talks about his early hostile relationship with John Howard, his unlikely friendship with Bronwyn Bishop, and his sense of inferiority to Jackie Kelly. He talks to Annabel about his days on the backbench, his political rivalries, and his friendship with Vanstone. Amanda Vanstone entertains with stories of her time as one of the most recognised Ministers in the Howard Government, when students burnt effigies of her as she set about implementing some of the most extreme cuts to higher education Australia has witnessed. She also tells the real story of the day John Howard sacked her.