Greens Communications Spokesperson Scott

blog In comparison, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has usually come out looking somewhat more dignified than he is normally able to achieve. However before we place too much confidence in Conroy, let's take a trip as time goes by back to 2006, when the good Senator was in Opposition himself. The ABC tells us - shock! - that a "shouting match" ended a Senate Estimates Committee hearing:

"A Senate estimates committee hearing has been adjourned afterwards a Labor frontbencher accused a Government Minister of "throwing a spaz". Labor Senator Stephen Conroy used the phrase to describe Communication Minister Senator Helen Coonan's response to questioning about Internet pornography. He later withdrew the remark, however the hearing was adjourned afterwards Senator Conroy clashed with Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson.

Looks like some things never change. Our own favourite description of the Senate Estimates process recently has come from Greens Communications Spokesperson Scott Ludlam, who put it this way in an article aptly entitled "Overestimated":