But in the end, question time this afternoon was all about one thing.

There was no grand prize for guessing what the government wanted to talk about — as both sides of politics tried to stamp their authority on the chamber before parliament rises for the week. With figures released this morning — showing a slight dip in unemployment — the ALP wanted to talk about jobs and nothing else.

Ministers from all sorts of portfolios asked themselves questions about working Australians.

The Prime Minster was first off the mark, reminding people what went down earlier today.

"Let me repeat, today the unemployment rate went down," she said. Then came Treasurer Wayne Swan singing a song about how the Government is supporting jobs and growth in the Australian economy.

Next, Industry Minister Greg Combet talked about "jobs in workplaces" (as opposed to jobs in the homeplaces), before Employment Minister Bill Shorten reminded MPs again that unemployment numbers have fallen.

The opposition were also concerned about employment, but they were more interested in people losing their jobs, than gaining them.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott interrogated the Prime Minister about the Qantas job losses also announced today, climate action spokesman Greg Hunt asked Ms Gillard about Australian aluminium jobs going to China and tourism spokesman Bob Baldwin wanted to know about the viability of the tourism industry (it gets back to the carbon tax).

The opposition were also preoccupied with the question of the Prime Minister's job. Both Julie and Bronwyn Bishop (separately) attempted to cross examine Ms Gillard over what she knows about the Australia Day protest and text messages her former adviser sent.

But the PM was not impressed: "What is the opposition's alibi for being completely not interested [in jobs]," she wondered out loud.

Apart from the Sattler situation, question time this afternoon was not without its controversies. Nationals Leader Warren Truss was kicked out of the chamber at 2.17pm for rowdiness, as the PM talked about saving the Great Barrier Reef from climate change.

Mr Pyne tried to save his senior colleague but Speaker Peter Slipper wasn't having it. "There is also an obligation to observe standing orders," Mr Slipper said.

With that about eight other Coalition MPs stormed out of the chamber with Mr Truss. Who said solidarity is dead?

Mr Slipper continued to prove that he's very much his own Speaker today.

On a serious note, he read the riot act to advisers on the Coalition side who allegedly shouted out during a Prime Ministerial answer. Mr Slipper decreed that any adviser caught interjecting again will be banned from the chamber for the duration of his speakership.

On a more hilarious note, Mr Slipper introduced the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Tony Burke as the "Honourable Member for Just About Everything".

But the finale was left to Mr Pyne who tried to suspend standing orders because the government is not fit to rule and because Ms Gillard has so "debauched" the office of prime minister.

Quoting Oliver Cromwell, the Manager of Opposition Business said: "You have sat here too long . . . in the name of God, go!"'

The vote was lost, 71 to 70.

QUESTION TIME WRAP

Number of MPs who walked out when Warren Truss was kicked out: 8

Number of MPs who walked out when Labor's Graham Perrett was kicked out: 0

Number of minutes school group lasted in the public gallery: 31

Best Slipper slapdown: "The Prime Minister is skating very close to the borders of relevance" (during question on aluminium).

Insult that most provoked the Coalition: "The Three Stooges" (Wayne Swan on Coalition's economic team).

Most testy comment from the government: "I'm positive about everything except you, mate" (Bill Shorten responds to heckles during question on jobs).