The Mates saga was first aired at the end of Question Time yesterday. A pity, in a way, as it completely overshadowed further evidence of how Speaker David Hawker simply isn’t up to the job.

The Australian’s Strewth column has the best wrap:

“John Howard made a rare trip into the House of Representatives yesterday to withdraw a remark he had made in Question Time.

“Labor’s member for Oxley, Bernie Ripoll, asked whether the Government had approved a clause in Telstra boss Sol Trujillo’s contract that gives him $6 million if his contract ends inside one year. Howard dismissed the question, saying: ‘It is easy pickings for an Opposition to start talking about a big contract for a Telstra CEO, but placed in the same position you would not have taken any different attitude, and don’t be hypocrites and suggest otherwise.’ Labor’s Lindsay Tanner then complained that the Opposition had been forced to withdraw the term ‘hypocrite’ last year so the PM should too. Speaker David Hawker said because it was directed at a group of people, rather than an individual, it was OK. The PM consulted with the officials of the House, who said he was on safe ground, but in the interest of civility, he withdrew it.”

Yeah, yeah. The PM ducked into the House a minute before it adjourned to save his Speaker’s skin. Have a look at page 73 of yesterday’s Hansard then go back to Question Time to see how the whole farce unfolded.