Election a real drag in the NT

WHEN news broke that a red-headed woman had booted out Kevin Rudd as prime minister, gay and lesbian comic geniuses rejoiced. Their next show was only a few costume changes away!

The swift move had many drag queens convinced that Julia Gillard has what it takes to be a good prime minister: "A good set of balls and a large can of hairspray".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard declined an invitation from Throb Nightclub to attend a personal viewing of its latest drag sensation - Primed Mincer! - during her last visit to Darwin, before she called the election.

"You know, the problem is that I would go and feel comparatively underdressed," Ms Gillard told ABC radio in Darwin.

Underdressed would be an understatement - the queens at Throb spend twice as long preparing as they do performing the actual show.

In the tribute to Ms Gillard - two shows a night, two nights a week - the gals and guys blow audiences away with their elaborate costumes and comic wit.

With 15 per cent of Northern Territory residents not enrolled to vote, it may even be that some patrons leave Throb a little better informed about the big issues.

The tribute, which has evolved as the election campaign unfolded, is due to wrap up this weekend, but there might be an encore on the election weekend (August 21).

Throb co-owner Tim Palmer said Primed Mincer! was initially scheduled to be a one-weekend event.

"The show took on a life of its own," he told AAP.

"Julia Gillard is a prime minister that was made to be parodied. We couldn't resist," Mr Palmer said.

As you would expect with any good drag show, Primed Mincer! includes a fair number of sexual references, nudity and good ol' fashioned Aussie humour.

Several performances have opened with Double Take's parody of Dolly Parton's song 9 to 5, with the lyrics: "working nine to nine, 24-7 under Kevin".

Drag queen Moncheri, playing Ms Gillard, returns from the hair salon with a new `do after having "washed that man right out of her hair" to "send him on his way".

The show celebrates the rise of the "ranga", including a special appearance by infamous One Nation identity Pauline Hanson.

Three smoking-hot female construction workers dance onto the stage to highlight some of the pitfalls of Labor's Building the Education Revolution scheme.

Drag queen Shimmer does a very saucy rendition of Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and attempts to serenade Ms Gillard with a Dannii Minogue hit, All I want to do is touch you.

The funniest part - and probably the peak of political incorrectness - features a topless, cabbage-patch-doll-carrying, glitter-covered couple who travel across the stage in a cardboard boat, aptly named SS Q-Jump.

As the Split Endz song, Six months in a leaky boat, blasts out, Ms Gillard tells them: "Don't worry, there's some nice five-star accommodation waiting for you in Dili, darlings!".

As the campaign drags towards the end of its second week, Primed Mincer! is shaping up as the most exciting thing to happen in the Northern Territory during the 2010 federal election.