Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg drew a crowd of more than 600 to the Malvern Town Hall in Melbourne on Wednesday evening for the launch of his memoir A Grateful Son, with the night's biggest question proving just as gripping as the book itself: is a political comeback in the making?
The invitation-only event attracted a who's who of Liberal politics, business and sport, and came just one day after Frydenberg held a similarly high-profile launch in Sydney, giving the memoir tour the feel of something considerably larger than a standard book release.
A crowd befitting a political heavyweight
The guest list left little doubt about Frydenberg's continued standing. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett and Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger were prominent among the political contingent. Kroger, who attended the Sydney launch the previous night, arrived in a white puffer jacket and was clearly an enthusiastic supporter of the memoir.
Victorian Liberal identities including David Southwick, Georgie Crozier, Brad Rowswell, Michael O'Brien and Rachel Westaway were present, alongside former federal ministers Michael Wooldridge and Alan Tudge, and former Liberal senator Helen Kroger.
From the business world, Ruslan Kogan and his wife Anastasia, Transurban chief Michelle Jablko, Chemist Warehouse boss Mario Tascone and business identity Bill Guest were spotted in the room. Former Geelong Football Club chief executive Brian Cook and Hugh Morgan also attended, as did Bec Daniher of FightMND, who brought her four-month-old son Ted.
Frydenberg's wife Amie and children Gemma and Blake were in attendance along with extended family members, giving the evening a strong personal warmth alongside its political energy.
MC Gerard Healy sets the tone with wit and a sharp jab
Former Melbourne Football Club great Gerard Healy hosted the evening and opened proceedings by expressing his deep respect for Frydenberg. He described the gathering as "bigger than a Brownlow Medal, with a bit less alcohol, but a hell of a lot more clothing," drawing laughter from a Melbourne crowd always primed for a footy reference.
Healy also delivered one of the night's sharpest lines at the expense of teal independent MP Monique Ryan, who defeated Frydenberg in the seat of Kooyong at the 2022 federal election, effectively ending his parliamentary career at that point. Referencing the posters of the book's cover on display, Healy quipped they had been nailed down "in case Monique Ryan's husband might be in the area." The crowd responded warmly to the dig, which referred to Ryan's husband Peter Jordan, who apologised in 2025 after being filmed removing a campaign sign belonging to Liberal candidate for Kooyong Amelia Hamer during last year's federal election campaign.
3AW breakfast host Russel Howcroft interviewed Frydenberg on stage, while former Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott also addressed the gathering. Shout-outs from the stage included Olympic champion-turned-fund-manager Grant Hackett, motorsport identity Mark Skaife and former Carlton player Ken Sheldon.
The comeback question: a kitchen cabinet split
Howcroft wasted no time asking the question the room had gathered to hear. When pressed on whether a return to politics was on the cards, Frydenberg was careful not to close the door.
"I have not made any decisions about a foray into politics," he told the audience. He added that "the kitchen cabinet at home is currently split" on the matter, a line that prompted further speculation rather than settling it.
Many in attendance view the memoir and its accompanying national tour as a deliberate exercise in political profile-building ahead of a potential tilt at a return to federal parliament.
Frydenberg was far less guarded on Victorian state politics. He described former Labor premier Daniel Andrews as "a bad guy, that's all you need to know," and expressed optimism about the upcoming November state election. He said he hoped David Southwick would serve as deputy premier and that Jess Wilson would become premier "in the not too distant future." Wilson was not at the launch, having a prior commitment.
The evening opened with guests standing for a rendition of the national anthem, bookending a night that felt less like a book launch and more like a political homecoming.
