Politics is, of course, a deeply serious business - the hip-pocket nerve, life-and-death decisions, the entire future of the planet, and so forth.
But politics is also a fabulous spectator sport. And as the Liberal leadership spill becomes ever more entertaining, I found that Crikey and Twitter and Latelines and etcetera just weren’t enough. I wanted a ringside view. And so (along with a politics-mad 13 year old of my acquaintance), I made my way up to the Hill, through security (note to self: next time, leave the Swiss army knife at home), and into the public gallery, to soak up the vibe.
It was an unusually attentive audience – leaning forward on our seats, congratulating ourselves on our bird’s eye view of Bob Brown’s bald patch, laughing appreciatively at the schoolyard humour, as the Senate debates whether to allow marathon sitting hours over the emissions trading bills and whether to take breaks for lunch and dinner.
Of course, that wasn’t what the debate was about, and it wasn’t really about climate change by this point, either, It was about the Punch and Judy show in the Liberal party room.
And it was good, old-fasioned entertainment and please, please please – give us more of it. How else are we going to foster political engagement in a generation raised on Big Brother? Malcolm is leaving the House, and we all want to watch. We may even take in some passing references to the future of the planet, while we’re at it.
