With all the media attention focused on rogue Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce’s maiden speech to Parliament last week, Family First’s Stephen Fielding was forced to play second fiddle to Barney, and sit out of the media spotlight for his opener.

Fielding’s religious base was hinted at, but never made explicit in a speech that probably notched up a record for the most times the word “family” has been used in an opening rant, which you can read in full here. As is the norm, Fielding waded through his life story but disclosed a couple of interesting snippets:

“What I bring to this parliament is a strong conviction that the family is the foundation upon which all societies are built and sustained. There should not be a need for a political party called Family First. But there is a need, because too often decisions made in Canberra do not put families first. Instead, it is families second and political ideologies first.”

Canberra driven by ideology? Nice in theory, but we’ll have to see how closely Fielding’s family focus mirrors our Prime Minister’s own agenda for IR and VSU reform, which Fielding has said he has strong reservations about. But unless Barnaby Joyce breaks rank and crosses the floor or goes AWOL like mad Bob Katter, it won’t matter in the slightest.

The Australian’s Matt Price takes a look at new Liberal Queensland Senator Russell Trood’s opening address. The “antithesis to Barnaby,” he’s a career academic and not surprisingly, higher education is top of his agenda. He’s probably feeling a little lonely and out of place in Howard’s coalition at the moment.

The Senate site hasn’t been up to date with adding all the 14 new Senators’ opening addresses as they come to hand, but keep an eye out. Although no one thought much of it at the time, just think about how important one flame haired Queensland Senator’s maiden speech has become in Australian political history.