When you're under attack, there's no refuge like a comfortable nest of old cliches and confections.
Or so it seemed on Thursday as the federal government, which is trying to salvage what it can from its budget imbroglio, found itself under revitalised assault.
Bill Shorten set the tone from the start.
Tony Abbott, he jeered to Bronwyn Bishop's stern displeasure, couldn't even deliver on his lies.
Abbott exhumed an old favourite - the government was "calmly and methodically" implementing its economic action plan.
Moments later he cloaked himself in one of his favourite self-styled titles, the Infrastructure Prime Minister. Others took the hint and before question was over Joe Hockey and Jamie Briggs had also so anointed him.
Hockey joined the fight back against the budget onslaught by declaring it Book Club Thursday and producing Wayne Swan's memoir.
In 400 pages, he revealed, he couldn't find a mention of a surplus.
Swan these days is a near-invisible member who offers little more than the occasional shout from the middle of the back bench.
But this got him on his feet, red-faced and quivering. It this wasn't genuine indignation, he's a better actor than anyone suspected.
"A lie," Swan roared.
"Withdraw," ordered Bishop.
Swan was defiant. "I will not, it's a lie." And was kicked out.
Hockey proceeded to go through the S list in the index and said there was no entry for surplus - as if an index was definitive proof.
The attack turned back on to Abbott with Chris Bowen talking about fabrications in the coming mid-year budget update.
The former government, Abbott replied, was built on a fabrication.
Then, referring to Labor waving through one budget measure during the morning, said he was pleased "a skerrick of responsibility, a moment of economic literacy, has penetrated the dim minds of those opposite".
The session was book-ended by references to a rather important event in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Anthony Albanese, draped in the glorious red and green of South Sydney, and Tony Burke, in the Dogs' base blue and white, walked in together at the start.
On the last question of the day, Malcolm Turnbull developed a fine head of steam lampooning Labor enemies old and new, meaning Stephen Conroy and Jason Clare. He does this regularly.
When Burke interrupted his flow, Turnbull, who's of Roosterish persuasion, retorted: "For the Bulldogs' sake I hope your team is in better form than you are today."
At least the Dogs made the grand final.
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