In a dramatic and chaotic scene in the Australian Parliament, Opposition frontbencher Dan Tehan was forcibly ejected from the House of Representatives during a particularly heated Question Time.
The extraordinary removal occurred as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a barrage of intense questioning from the Coalition regarding the now-viral Ballarat tractor chase incident. The pursuit, which involved a stolen tractor and captured widespread public attention, has become a significant political flashpoint.
Proceedings descended into turmoil following a series of interjections from Mr Tehan, who serves as the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Despite repeated warnings from the Speaker of the House, Milton Dick, to maintain order, the MP continued to disrupt the session.
A Tense Exchange and Forcible Removal
The Speaker was left with no alternative but to issue a directive for Mr Tehan to leave the chamber immediately. When the MP refused to comply voluntarily, parliamentary security was summoned to escort him from the premises.
This rare enforcement of parliamentary decorum underscores the deep tensions surrounding the government's handling of the bizarre Ballarat case. Video footage of the tractor chase has circulated widely, raising serious questions about rural crime and police resourcing.
Albanese Grilled on Law and Order
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Albanese was pressed relentlessly by the Opposition to account for his government's stance on law and order in regional communities. The Coalition has seized upon the incident, alleging it is symptomatic of broader failures in community safety under the current administration.
The Prime Minister defended his government's record, pointing to investments in police and community safety programmes, but the Opposition remained unconvinced, leading to the fiery exchange that culminated in Mr Tehan's expulsion.
The ejection of a senior frontbencher is a rare event in Australian politics, signalling the heightened stakes and fractious nature of the current parliamentary term.
