Visy boss Anthony Pratt at the Jobs and Skills Summit (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

It was a long day of talking, talking and more talking on the first day of the jobs summit, with attendees spending up to 13 hours in Parliament House — from when registration opened to the end of dinner. Master of ceremonies Helen McCabe said she had to ditch her high heels at some point in the evening — thanking Flight Attendants Association of Australia secretary Teri O’Toole for lending her a pair of flats. 

The day was so tiring, it seems, that at least a dozen attendees opted to skip today (though many had finished with their topics yesterday). The marble hall this morning was much quieter, with only the media-savvy giving short and sluggish press conferences. 

The summit’s official proceedings ended abruptly yesterday, with a discussion on climate change being cut short to make time for a photo-op before dinner. While journalists waited hopefully at the exit of the Great Hall, few attendees chose to front them and exited through a side door (Mark McGowan was one of the few who answered journalists’ questions). It had been a similar story at lunch — while some attendees ate their lunch in the courtyard, security guards stood at the door to keep journalists from mingling. 

Crikey managed to grab a snap of the dinner seating chart — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s table had a focus on business, with Alexi Boyd from the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Tim Reed from the Business Council of Australia, and Visy’s Anthony Pratt sitting with the PM, along with nurses’ union head Annie Butler and women’s economic taskforce chair Sam Mostyn. 

Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest sat at the same table as independent MPs Zali Steggall and Helen Haines, ACTU secretary Sally McManus and CEO of the Australian Hotels Association Stephen Ferguson (here’s hoping they go a room upgrade), while Qantas boss Alan Joyce sat with Telstra head John Mullen, Jon Davies from the Australian Constructors Association and Supply Nation’s Jodie Taylor. Toll boss Christine Holgate sat on Industry Minister Ed Husic’s table along with Woolworths head Brad Banducci along with several academics. 

Notably missing from dinner were independent MP Zoe Daniel, who was in a rotating summit seat and flew back to Melbourne, and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (who likely had to rush back to Sydney to deal with the rail strike after a fiery confrontation with Rail, Tram and Bus Union national secretary Mark Diamond in the marble hall).  

For most the day ended at dinner, and Canberra’s popular bars were surprisingly quiet. But while most toddled off to bed ahead of today’s 8am start, union heads kicked on at the hotel bar.