Dux, arts graduate, journalist, state MP, minister for planning, minister for heritage, opposition leader, premier, elder statesman, history buff, consultant, board member and blogger.

Yesterday, he added two more titles to his CV (if he can fit them in): Senator and Foreign Minister.

When he arrived at the doors of Parliament House yesterday morning, he was full of the bouncy optimism that comes with a ''first day at school''.

''I've got a lot to learn, I'm bound to make mistakes,'' he said in a curious blend of modesty and bravado.

''I hope my colleagues will correct me and teach me the right way of going about it.''

Somewhere in Canberra, Kevin Rudd spat out his coffee. Oh don't worry Bob, I'll teach you!

''It's a big step to go from the NSW Parliament to the Parliament of the Commonwealth,'' Carr continued, leaving the subtext hanging there (of course, I was premier of the most important state in the country for 11 years, so it's not that big a step.)

Indeed, in a sign that his new job isn't as challenging as he makes out, Carr was only too happy to linger at the doors and have a chat - like he was down the pub on a Friday night, not at Parliament House at the start of a sitting week.

Carr stood there for nearly eight minutes, discussing Afghanistan, Australia's UN Security Council bid and his upcoming meetings with Indonesian leaders and overseas trips.

''Can I just say something about that poll in the paper today?'' Carr added, in a pub-ish ''who's up for another drink?'' spirit.

He then launched into a monologue about Tony Abbott, with all the ease and spark of a wrathful thespian.

''I thought of this over breakfast,'' he began. ''Tony Abbott is like a cheapskate hypnotist in a run-down circus. He's saying to the electorate 'Look into my eyes, you are growing weaker, no more boats … ' ''

Don't be deceived by the ''I've got a lot to learns'' - Carr is such a seasoned performer he doesn't even need pepper or salt. Over toast this morning, he came up with a better line on Abbott than anyone in federal Labor has been able to for two years.

And as Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury demonstrated later in question time, there's new and then there's brand spanking new.

Yesterday afternoon, Bradbury got his ''maiden'' question (Peter Slipper's term, not mine) and the Opposition could see him coming a mile off. ''Officer on deck!'', came the call, as Bradbury approached the despatch box - in reference to his ill-fated trip on a patrol boat before the 2010 election (to calm boat people fears in his western Sydney electorate).

The new minister tried to ignore the Coalition and talk about transparency in taxation instead. Meanwhile, Julie Bishop mocked his comparisons between ''this side'' and ''that side'' of the House with a Charleston-like hand move.

Undeterred, Bradbury revved up to dunk the Opposition over their costings, or lack thereof. Slipper ordered him back to the question, but the new kid wouldn't listen and was embarrassingly sat down for being irrelevant with 18 seconds left on the clock.

Robert John Carr would never make a mistake like that.