Empty chair riding shotgun for lost leader a Thor point for Nationals

The empty chair that was reserved for Bridget McKenzie. Picture: AAP

There was a noticeably empty chair during Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s address to parliament on Monday morning.

According to the official seating chart, the spot front and centre was reserved for the “Leader of the Nationals in the Senate”. That’s backbencher Bridget McKenzie!

So, where was she?

Staging a silent protest against the Nationals shambles? Didn’t want to sit next to newbie Greens leader Adam Bandt? Showing solidarity for Llew O’Brien — nicknamed Who O’Brien by some Labor MPs — and his decision to leave the Nationals partyroom but not the LNP?

Indonesian president Joko Widodo enters parliament yesterday ... with the empty chair in full view. Picture: Getty Images

“If any of our MPs tried that, they’d be expelled immediately,” one Labor MP said sternly.

Barnaby Joyce tried to talk O’Brien out of the move, probably because if a second leadership spill were to hypothetically take place, hypothetically sometime soon … he just lost one sure vote to reclaim his old job.

Eventually we spied McKenzie laughing on the backbench, sandwiched between her Nationals Senate deputy, Matt Canavan, and Tasmanian Liberal Jonathon Duniam.

Nationals senators Bridget McKenzie sits with Matt Canavan ahead of the address from Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo. Picture: AAP

She claimed not to know about the reserved seat and an ­attendant didn’t alert her.

But her office (significantly smaller now and we assume sans colour-coded spreadsheets) admitted it was sent an email advising her about the allocated spot.

As far as visual metaphors go, an empty leadership chair is a strong one. So were the spill warning signs we found placed around the wet corridors of power after a brief but heavy rain event.

In another sure warning sign, Malcolm Turnbull appeared (with Lucy) to call his coal-loving former colleagues “nuts”. Stable government!

O’Brien skipped the Indonesian President’s address, which went big on superhero references.

“The collaboration with Indonesia and Australia’s partnership in the midst of the rising globing ascendancies can be illustrated by the movie, Avengers End Game, where the forces of good unite, the Avengers assemble, and the common enemy can be defeated,” ­Jokowi said.

Who does that make Scott Morrison — a hammer-wielding Thor or coal-clutching Iron Man? We’ve already seen shades of Michael McCormack’s shouty Hulk. Does that make Joyce the Black Widow?

You didn’t need spidey senses to spot the weakness in the ­Coalition. And Joyce didn’t hide a huge eye roll during a rather dull McCormack question-time dixer.

Luckily, Labor pulled a fast one and nominated O’Brien for the relatively meaningless job of Deputy Speaker. A showdown! The dozens of punters in the public gallery were on the edge of their seats!

O’Brien wasn’t in the room and claimed he didn’t know Labor would nominate him for the $42,250 pay rise.

Nationals Whip Damian Drum claimed we’d never know the numbers of the leadership spill vote last week, but we can take an educated guess after McCormack’s candidate lost 67-75 in a secret ballot.

There are 64 Labor MPs plus six crossbenchers. All you need is five.

“That’s democracy … I know he’ll do a good job,” McCormack told the chamber.

“So why didn’t you nominate him?” Labor’s Rob Mitchell ­retorted.

Who O’Brien no more! Nats all I got.