A few months ago, Jack Gough was struggling to get the Albanese government’s ear.

But on Tuesday, the chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, the body leading the fight against fire ants, feral deer and other environmental pests, will sit down for dinner with Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher , thanks in no small part to this column – and a $13,051 charity donation.

Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough will dine with the Treasurer and Finance Minister next week after winning a Parliament House charity auction. Credit: Invasive Species Council

In August, Gough came in at the buzzer to place the winning bid for a private dinner with Chalmers during the charity auction at parliament’s Midwinter Ball, an idea he told us he stumbled

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