Lobbyists to play Santa in PM's office PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has told lobbyists and anyone else beating a path to his door before Christmas just what they need to do. He wants them to play Santa Claus for the less fortunate. That means placing a gift under a decorated wishing tree in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. The goodwill measure has the support of Labor leader Bill Shorten and the Australian Greens' Christine Milne, who joined the prime minister for the tree's launch on Wednesday. "This is an important manifestation of the better angels of our nature," Mr Abbott said. I will be letting everyone visiting know ... that the wishing tree is here. Mr Shorten said Christmas was a time when politics should be left behind. Senator Milne said while Christmas brought so much joy, it was also a stressful time for people who wanted to do more for their family. The K-Mart gift appeal aims to collect 500,000 Christmas presents nationally for the Salvation Army.