The fifth season of Annabel Crabb’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ begins tonight on the ABC. The show sees the ABC’s charming political journalist visit politicians at home and together they prepare a meal.
The simple premise puts politicians in a different light, giving them an opportunity to appear more relaxed and speak more philosophically about issues and reflect upon the political game. The laid back approach often reveals hidden insights and curious observations.
Annabel Crabb spoke to OUTinPerth this afternoon, chatting on her mobile as she navigated Sydney’s streets, her arms filmed with bags and belongings. Having just appeared in the ABC’s ‘The Drum’ she was on the lookout for a taxi while talking about her latest politico-culinary adventures.
Crabb said she’d learned a lot about politicians while making the show.
“I’ve learned a lot of weird stuff about politicians, but I’ve always been interested in the random details of people’s lives.” Crabb said.
“Politicians are responsible for a lot of decision making. If they take an interest in a particular subject or issue – that gives that subject or issue incredible prominence. They have the power to address wrongs or highlight the concerns of people in all sorts of different corners of the continent.”
Crabb said she’s always intrigued by what issues get a politician’s attention.
“What makes the difference between an issue that a politician will pick up and run with, die in a ditch for, or ignore completely is a really subjective.” Crabb said, “It’s governed by their own life experience, their on prejudices, passions and disappointments. I often think if we learn about that stuff were in a better position to know how that politician will jump on a particular issue.”
Crabb said when you meet politicians in their house they are more likely to be more vulnerable.
“It’s really hard for politicians to be vulnerable, it’s not a quality that they like exhibiting in parliament. That’s a real rough and tumble place and you don’t want to expose any weak spots because someone will kick them right there”
The new series of the show begins with Scott Morrison making Crabb a fish curry, which they eat out on the deck of his home. At the time of filming Morrison was the Immigration Minister and Tony Abbott was still the Prime Minister.
The tough talking Immigration Minister dons a giant white woolly jumper and chats about the long journey he and his wife faced with IVF. Morrison shares that he like spending Saturday nights watching movies with his kids and happily chats about the role religion plays in his life.
Surprisingly Morrison reveals that when Tony Abbott called to offer him a Ministerial position after the 2013 election, he just hoped it was anything but the immigration portfolio.
Crabb said the version of people you get on the show is someone on their best behaviour.
“They’ve tidied up the house, they’re being incredibly nice, and mean Scott Morrison opened the door and presented me with a bunch of flowers, which is not something he’d probably do if I was an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka. You do get them at their most charming.”
While the presentation may be sugar-coated, Crabb argues that politics is a profession where we often see the worst of people.
“Often their fighting each other, attacking each other, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but I think it’s useful to see these people when they’re not under attack. I think you learn different things.”
Crabb said she was surprised by her interaction with Senator Ricky Muir from the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts party. The Victorian senator took Crabb driving in a variety of cars before they had lunch.
To each encounter Crabb brings a desert to end the episode with. Tonight’s episode features a very cool Vacherin – which is a meringue with nuts mixed through it.
Crabb said that sometimes they try to match the desert to the politician. For Ricky Muir the team really wanted to do a desert involving donuts (‘get it) but carting a deep fryer to rural Victoria was problematic, so the chose something involving Rocky Road (‘get it) instead.
Another episode of the new series sees a bipartisan approach with Labor’s Anthony Albanese and the Liberal’s Christopher Pyne joining Crabb for a dumpling making session in a Canberra restaurant. Also in this series Crabb heads to Arnhem land to meet Senator Nova Perris and goes off the grid with Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
Kitchen Cabinet returns tonight on ABC1 at 8pm.
Graeme Watson
