By Noel Towell and Kishor Napier-Raman
The current Senate estimates season has failed dismally – so far at least – to bring “the lols” that we usually hope for out of Parliament House this time of year.
So CBD salutes Liberal senator Jane Hume for brightening up the Canberra winter gloom just a touch on Tuesday morning as she welcomed Australian Securities and Investment Commission chairman Joe Longo – Hume’s sort-of gym buddy, it turns out – to the day’s proceedings.
“I feel this is very awkward – every time I see Mr Longo now, it seems to be at the gym on Saturday mornings, so I apologise for the Lycra,” the Victorian senator said.
“Less worthy men have seen me in far less.”
Hume indulged herself in a long pause as the room broke up around her, before she continued.
“Sorry, I forgot myself for a moment. I’m going to ask some questions about something serious now.”
Longo, for his part, was admirably determined that the committee should be under no misapprehension over his choice of activewear – it says a lot about a person, in CBD’s view – as one of Hume’s fellow senators questioned which of the two gym buddies was wearing the Lycra.
“I can reassure the committee that I will never be seen in Lycra,” the ASIC chairman insisted.
Never say never, Joe.
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