Last week, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce made headlines after he was filmed lying on a Canberra footpath, intoxicated, swearing into his phone. The video went viral - and questions began swirling about the culture of drinking in parliament. But that wasn’t the end of the saga. 

This week, Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey has come under scrutiny for slurring her words at a recent parliamentary hearing. She admitted to having a couple of drinks beforehand, but has blamed her style of speech on a medical condition. 

Regardless, the question remains - how big a problem is alcohol in parliament? Should booze bans be considered?     

And if most of us can’t drink on the job - why can our politicians? 

Plus, we talk about the political storm surrounding the asylum seekers who recently arrived on our shores - and whether turning back the boats still wins votes. 

Today, federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal and chief political correspondent David Crowe discuss the week in politics.

Last week, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce made headlines after he was filmed lying on a Canberra footpath, intoxicated, swearing into his phone. The video went viral - and questions began swirling about the culture of drinking in parliament. But that wasn’t the end of the saga. 
This week, Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey has come under scrutiny for slurring her words at a recent parliamentary hearing. She admitted to having a couple of drinks beforehand, but has blamed her style of speech on a medical condition. 
Regardless, the question remains - how big a problem is alcohol in parliament? Should booze bans be considered?     
And if most of us can’t drink on the job - why can our politicians? 
Plus, we talk about the political storm surrounding the asylum seekers who recently arrived on our shores - and whether turning back the boats still wins votes. 
Today, federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal and chief political correspondent David Crowe discuss the week in politics.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

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