Llew O’Brien removed from House after swearing during climate debate

Llew O’Brien was ordered out of the House of Representatives for three hours after shouting an obscenity while Anthony Albanese defended the government’s climate agenda. The exchange followed a question from Barnaby Joyce about the Climate Change Department’s budget and unfolded amid calls for greater respect in Parliament.

Joyce said the department cost $8.7 billion a year and argued it should be scrapped, while Albanese cited scientific evidence that climate change is real and said extreme weather events were becoming more frequent and intense. Speaker Milton Dick said swearing was unacceptable and directed O’Brien to leave. The confrontation came as Albanese had urged politicians to lower the temperature of debate following an alleged attack that left independent MP Helen Haines seriously injured.