Awkward photo shows political divide on mask wearing
A revealing photo taken inside Parliament House has exposed one thing ignored by almost all Senators.
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When parliament returned in July the government made a big song and dance about the importance of wearing masks.
Every Labor MP and Senator donned face coverings when in the chamber as a bare minimum.
It became a physical reminder of the political divide between the government and the Coalition, which largely ignored the advice to mask up.
But two photos captured inside parliament have raised questions about whether it was just performative all along.
When the nation tuned into the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon, a majority of government MPs were wearing masks.
But in the Senate, it was a different story.
Just three out of 26 government senators were wearing face coverings. Three Greens senators also were spotted wearing masks.
Parliament’s second favourite question time has far fewer viewers in the public gallery, let alone watching live on the television.
Nor does it, unless something controversial happens, typically make the headlines as its lower house counterparts do.
Potentially that’s why many of the crossbench ditched proceedings on Monday.
Both Tasmanians Jacqui Lambie and Tammy Tyrrell and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson had better things to do. ACT Senator David Pocock filtered in and out.
After a disorderly showing during the first parliamentary fortnight, President Sue Lines put out an improved performance reining in the “running commentary” early on.
“I’m running the Senate, thank you,” she cried.
The government was focused on prosecuting the benefits of its jobs and skills summit, while the Coalition tried to ramp up fears multi-employer bargaining could lead to industry-wide strikes.
But neither landed a knockout blow.
The Senate lasted nearly the full sixty minutes before catching the giggles after senator Don Farrell delayed answering a question about the space industry by recalling memories of his youth.
“We seem to be on the rather earthly matters of cars from Senator Farrell, rather than the actual question that relates to the space industry and the jobs from the space industry,” senator Simon Birmingham told the chamber, laughing.
“I do note that Senator Farrell was just getting started,” President Lines responded.
Originally published as Awkward photo shows political divide on mask wearing
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