Art imitated life in Parliament House yesterday as Coalition MP Bronwyn Bishop waxed lyrical on having a refreshingly new prime minister in the House, while deftly denying any rumours that the said new PM would be challenging the incumbent, or even be sworn in immediately so that he could.
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Meanwhile, the PM in question admitted he wasn't beyond hoping for a sex scandal since the euro was becoming old news.
All this at lunch time yesterday, when the stars of the political comedy, Yes, Prime Minister, walked Australia's corridors of power.
Affable, hapless British Prime Minister Jim Hacker (Mark Owen-Taylor) and his teflon-coated, conscience-free Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby mingled with politicians and the reptiles of the press in advance of the opening of the stage play written by Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay, authors of the hit BBC television series that had the world in stitches in the '80s.
Lynn and Jay wrote the first stage version two years ago, and after wowing the West End, it's touring Australia.
Politicians like to laugh at the public service, and the public service like to laugh at politicians, the MP observed, after confessing her favourite episode debated why it was necessary for the Archbishop of Canterbury to believe in God.
Things are very serious and negative in Australian politics, observed Sir Humphrey, whose alter-ego Philip Quast used the opportunity to call for greater representation of young people in politics, to give them more say over their own futures. ''We need more laughter,'' Sir Humphrey said to the crowd, ''what we need is ...''. An election, interjected the MP, quick as a flash.
The pair featured in the House of Representatives, when they were welcomed to question time by the Speaker Peter Slipper. Their cameo appearance was much appreciated by the politicians.
While Sir Humphrey and the prime minister soaked up the real drama of Parliament, and the ACT MPs Andrew Leigh and Gary Humphries eagerly questioned them about the play, it was obvious the national capital is a natural host to Yes, Prime Minister.
In fact, they looked so at home in the corridors of power it seemed Ms Bishop may know more than she was letting on.
■ Yes, Prime Minister opens at the Canberra Theatre on Wednesday, March 21.
