Australia’s new Senate was officially sworn in today in Canberra, with a whole lot of Palmer United members entering the fray, a whole lot of potential crossbench buffoonery, a whole lot of hover handing courtesy of Penny Wong, and a general sense of ‘what the bloody hell is going to happen from here?’
Kangaroo poop-thrower, unpredictable interview subject and all-around loose unit Ricky Muir was among those sworn in, representing the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party. Three Palmer United party members took their places in the new Senate, each of them adhering to Clive “Regina George” Palmer‘s strict “on Mondays, we wear yellow” policy.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is relying on the new Senate to get his Carbon Tax repeal through. Jackie Lambie (pictured above) once referred to him as a “political psychopath”, it seems that this morning, the two of them had a “very productive” meeting with “courteous and constructive” discussions on the agenda.
Abbott has also tried to curry favour with Ricky Muir, along with Family First senator Bob Day and Liberal Democratic Party member David Leyonhjelm. He is due to meet with Palmer United senators Glenn “The Brick With Eyes” Lazarus and Dio Wang in the coming days, and will need to play very nice with them if he intends to get anything at all done from this point on.
The new Senate has the largest collection of minor party members and crossbenchers in Australian political history, and this ragtag bunch of misfits – along with sinister overlord Clive Palmer – now have the last word on any bill that passes through the House of Representatives.
Dashing Greens pinup boy Scott Ludlum was up for President of the new Senate, but was defeated by Tasmanian Liberal Stephen Parry, who has vowed to preside over things in an “independent” and “impartial” manner.
Oh yes, as promised, here’s the epic Penny Wong hover hand. Poor Nick Xenophon will likely never live this down.
via The Australian
Photos: Stephan Postles via Getty Images
Photos: Stephan Postles via Getty Images
