Amid the coronavirus pandemic, an outbreak of bipartisanship continues to spread through Australia's political ranks.
The virus has inspired lofty rhetoric but also the kind of sleeves-rolled-up, let's get this done co-operation rarely seen in parliament over the past decade.
The historic wage subsidy program that will see $130 billion going to businesses in just six months is assured of passing on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison took a Churchillian tone to tell parliament this was the price Australia had to pay to win the battle against the insidious virus.
"Today we act to protect Australia's sovereignty," he said.
"When Australian lives and livelihoods are threatened, when they are under attack, our nation's sovereignty is put at risk, and we must respond.
"Make no mistake, today is not about ideologies. We checked those at the door."
But that doesn't mean there's agreement all round.
Labor is not completely happy with the wage subsidy package, pointing out it still leaves many casuals, temporary visa holders, local government and charity workers out in the cold.
Nevertheless, it voted to pass the bill.
Bipartisanship didn't imply unilateralism nor silence, but rather goodwill and a capacity to work through issues, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told parliament.
"If we continue to work together across this parliament, unions, business, community leaders, workers, we will emerge from this stronger, more united, with a greater sense of confidence in who we are," he said.
"I'm certain we can do that together."
Question time was again a sombre affair, with even fewer MPs in the chamber, predominantly from those NSW and Victorian electorates within driving distance.
Mr Morrison promised Labor he would look into the issue of private health insurers passing on savings to policyholders and gave a genuinely informative answer and offer of co-operation to opposition frontbencher Linda Burney about protecting indigenous communities
But it was marginally more combative than during the previous sitting, when the shock of the true nature of the pandemic and what was needed to stop it was still raw.
Mr Albanese even raised a complaint the prime minister wasn't being relevant to a question - but just one.
And there was a hint of formula creeping back into the questions asked by government backbenchers, which uniformly ended with "during the coronavirus pandemic" as if some listener might have forgotten the extraordinary times parliament finds itself in.
"Treasurer, isn't this further proof that we will do what it takes to ensure that Australia bounces back stronger?" backbencher Nicolle Flint asked.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack missed the mood memo, positively thundering away about MP Damian Drum's background playing Aussie rules for Geelong, enlightening listeners to the existence of Victorian town Congupna and praising the work of sign language experts before eventually getting around to some semblance of an answer to the question of how the government is ensuring regional Australia essential operations continue to function.
"Never have I got on so well with so many Labor state ministers," he said with a level of surprise that hinted just as the hard work in halting the coronavirus spread can easily be undone, so too could be the pause in divisive partisanship.
Australian Associated Press
