Politics live as Turnbull government faces questions over energy, education

"As the allegations have been made up out of thin air, a few people are still bent on spreading them - this only shows that they are political motivated," the Ambassador told the gathering.

"Apparently those people are not willing to see the continued growth of the friendly cooperation between our two countries and two peoples."

"Their main purpose, as I see it, is to instigate China panic."

"Those who have fabricated the allegations really an imagination which is wild and morbid. If they were to apply their imagination to scientific research, they might be accord with a Nobel prize someday. Who knows?" the Ambassador said.

"I've heard those allegations more than once since I was posted here. In Chinese, we call it 'cook up the overnight cold rice' - which means repeating the same stuff over and over again."

China's Ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, has spoken at the Australia China Business Council networking day.

The Ambassador said the allegations about donations raised in a recent Fairfax/ABC report were "sensational".

"Maybe the producers of the program believe that those groundless allegations may turn to be true after repeating a thousand times," he said.

In a brilliant case of timing, politicians are, right now, at a massive networking day with Chinese business representatives.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop opened the occasion.

Nobody mention the Glorious Foundation, okay?

You will remember yesterday's question time descended into a 'who-is-more-poorly-behaved' fracas about overseas political donations.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has slammed as "highly inappropriate" a move to inquire into foreign political donations and influence-buying within Australia's governing parties via the secretive Parliamentary Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security.

The Greens want the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to look at the issue, not the Labor-Coalition constituted Intelligence and Security committee.

Enough of this frivolity.

Energy and Chinese donations.

That's where we're up to.

One more.

And Labor MP Anne Aly and her husband David Allen.

Delightful.

Accessories always make the outfit, right?

Possible my favourite trio of the evening.

Someone call the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation.

There were lots of jokes about men punching above their weight, wife-wise.

Let's look at some pretty pictures from last night's Midwinter Ball.

I love seeing everyone dressed up.

Hello and welcome to the day in politics.

Andrew Meares and I are here to take you through the day in politics.

It's a pleasure to have your company.