It's being touted as a showdown between Wolverine and Parliament's death stare. And who will win is up to one lucky, and presumably wealthy, bidder.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop is auctioning a dinner with herself, Australian actor Hugh Jackman and his wife, the overseas adoption advocate, Deborra-lee Furness in New York.
In what is being hailed as the "best yet" Midwinter Ball charity auction hosted by the Canberra press gallery, the winner will be flown business class to New York, courtesy of Qantas. Bidding starts at $10,000.
"I'm delighted to host a unique opportunity to generously support worthy causes with the dinner of a lifetime for two in New York with Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness - a foreign 'affair to remember'," Ms Bishop told Fairfax Media.
The Midwinter Ball is a fixture on Parliament's limited social calendar. It is hosted by the Canberra press gallery in late June every year and all proceeds are donated to charity. This year, the profits will be donated to the Luke Batty Foundation, Rare Cancers Australia and four other charities, including the Mo, Evie and Otis Foundation.
Nearly $3 million has been raised since 2000, and Press Gallery president and Sky News host David Speers says he is hoping for another record year in 2015, given the number of politicians willing to auction their time for a good cause.
Odd couples and gatherings are aplenty. Four of Parliament's most powerful senators, crossbenchers Nick Xenophon, Jacqui Lambie and the reclusive upper house members Ricky Muir and Dio Wang, are offering a crossbench powerbrokers dinner, while the government's self-described "fixer" Christopher Pyne is teaming up with his old parliamentary sparring partner Anthony Albanese for lunch or dinner with the highest bidder.
Football is a common theme – new Greens leader Richard di Natale will take the winner to the AFL along with his two new deputies, senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam.
Go-it-alone former Palmer United Senator Glenn Lazarus will take up to eight people to a Canberra Raiders game.
It's ladies night in for Labor with Penny Wong, the government's leader in the Senate teaming up with deputy party leader Tanya Plibersek and donating their time.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has offered breakfast at Kirribilli House, and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is offering dinner in Canberra, with his treasury spokesman Chris Bowen, to the highest bidder.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull will host a dinner for four at his exclusive Canberra apartment overlooking Lake Burley Griffin.
However, not all charity items are won by the wealthy.
Five years ago, the left-wing activist group Get Up! successfully bid on Mr Abbott's charity item and won a surfing lesson with the then opposition leader for Riz Wakil, an Afghan refugee who was detained at the notorious Curtin detention centre.
