In Australia’s tightly choreographed return to parliament, unexpected moments ring out

Mehreen Faruqi's sombre protest in support of Gaza and Pauline Hanson's unexpected championing of David Pocock broke up a well-worn routine

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In a day of highly-choreographed tradition and ceremony, even a quiet unexpected moment lands with a thud. Like the black rod brandished by the usher in the Senate, banging against the door of the House of Representatives to summon MPs to the other chamber for the opening of parliament, two unscripted moments rang out against the otherwise soft solemnity of the opening of the 48th parliament.

One, a sombre protest against Israel's bombing campaign on Gaza: a white sign held up as the governor general, Sam Mostyn, held centre court in the Senate, hours after the Labor government joined a major global joint statement condemning Israel for denying humanitarian aid to Palestinians.