Parliamentary farce

February 22, 2008, 6:15pm,  161 views

Federal Parliament today was farcical, with Opposition members ejected for disrupting proceedings. They were protesting the extra sitting day.

Parliament traditionally closed on Thursday evening, but the new Labor Government has added low-key Friday sessions without question time to work through legislation.

For MPs from Western Australia and country regions this has made it virtually impossible for them to return to their electorates between sitting weeks.

They rightly argue that if Friday sittings are so important there should be question time and the Prime Minister should attend.

Kevin Rudd visited an outback indigenous community today, but a life-size cardboard cutout version graced the House of Representatives.

This prompted the Speaker, Labor’s Harry Jenkins, to throw out four Opposition members.