Paul Bongiorno: Business as usual in Canberra – so much for a kinder, gentler politics

Dubious adversarial political tactics have rebounded on the Opposition in the Senate over the past week, Paul Bongiorno writes. Photo: AAP

Winston Churchill once observed that “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried”.

He wasn’t reflecting on Australia’s version of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, but the final sitting fortnight of Parliament in Canberra before the long winter break goes close to fitting the bill.