I enjoyed these clips of Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating versus his various Liberal opponents, John Howard, Alexander Downer, etc., and more recently the appearance of “Cardboard Kev”. Those in Canada who criticize the behaviour of our MPs call for a return to decorum that never really existed, and the rowdy Australian MPs should help them put the comparatively mild-mannered Canadian MPs into perspective; after all, they don’t lapse into the second person or bring articles into the chamber! There’s something inherently hilarious about the Speakers screaming out “ORDER!” in an Australian accent.
Paul Keating to Alexander Downer: “How are you doing there, Curly? Old Darling? […]. This is the salmon that actually jumps on the hook for you!”
Paul Keating to Peter Costello: “Well, don’t be too ballsy over there. […] When I told our caucus last year that you were a low-altitude flyer, I was right, wasn’t I!”
Liberal member: “We want the Prime Minister here!” Out comes the cardboard cut-out of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
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