Musical Chairs I

A new year, and not only is there a new look on Insiders (while the chairs have shrunk, the show's been expanded - bit of a disappointment that, they just stuck in a distracting ten minute slab of news, in imitation of its weekend political rivals like Sunday - and they STILL haven't restored their entertaining `Adjournment Debate' segment, which often provided a good opportunity to laugh at Sophie Panopoulos), but close scrutiny (I could be wrong) reveals what looks like a bit of chopping and changing on the benches at Canberra.

The placement of pollies in the chamber is a fine art, with seats behind the leader - and in full view of the parliamentary camera used to film the very same `Order in the House' that about three of us watch late on a Sunday night - are as eagerly sought after, especially the coveted `over the shoulder' (OTS) seat just behind the microphone. Labor's Kate Ellis, the attractive young Member for Adelaide, won this spot after the last election, but has apparently been joined on her left by the rising Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens, who appears to be doing all she jolly can to get into frame.

On the government side, shock horror! Louise Markus, the Hillsong-affiliated Member for Greenway, who won her seat from Labor in the 2004 election, has lost her OTS! What shocking misdemeanour led to such a punishment I cannot say (accidentally deporting an Australian citizen? Bribing Saddam Hussein to the tune of $300m?), but the OTS is now in the possession of Tony Abbott's erstwhile pool partner Christopher Pyne, and Ms Markus moved up a tier, subject to the worst whims of poor camera framing and the like.

It may seem trivial, but we're going to have to stare at these people trying desperately to look very interested in what their leaders are saying aaaall year ...