‘I fart in your direction’: Australia lawmakers hurl Monty Python insults, don pyjamas, in all-night reform debate

The Australian parliament descended into farce with lawmakers hurling Monty Python insults and even donning pyjamas in a poisonous all-night debate before the biggest shake-up of the voting system in decades was passed on Friday.

The government won a revamp of the way senators are elected – which could take a heavy toll on small parties – after acrimonious clashes one former minister warned risked “destroying public confidence” in parliament.

Bitter argument ran through on Thursday, overnight and well into Friday afternoon before the Liberal administration finally prevailed in the teeth of Labor opposition, thanks to the support of the Greens.

“I fart in your general direction,” said senior Labor senator Doug Cameron, a reference to a Monty Python sketch.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon turned up to the debate in his pyjamas, and with a pillow under his arm.

Labor senator Penny Wong bashed the Greens. “What about the dirty deal ... that this leader, the Liberal lap dog that is Senator [Richard] Di Natale, the Liberal lap dog has done a deal,” she yelled.