It can often seem like politicians are in the dark, without any idea of what's going on. But for one parliamentarian, it really was the case.
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Albert Thompson, the Labor member for Port Adelaide, spoke in complete darkness for almost five minutes in the House of Representatives, where a power failure had blacked out the chamber.
The Times reported Mr Thompson carried on regardless, continuing to hold forth until the speaker, Mr Cameron, suggested Hansard might have some difficulty recording his speech.
Diligent Hansard reporters captured most of the speech, adding two curt lines to explain the interruption: "Debate having been interrupted by a brief light and power failure".
Not that any of this was a bother to the member for Corio, Mr Opperman, who continued perusing some papers at his seat in the chamber with the aid of a cigarette lighter.
Meanwhile, the names of streets in the administrative triangle surrounding Parliament House were announced. Monarchs who reigned in the first 50 years of federation would be honoured with streets named after them, with Royal assent required first.
New street names were also announced for more than 120 streets in Canberra for current and future need, extending as far away as Narrabundah and O'Connor.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
