The bells for a division rang out at just the wrong time at Parliament House on Thursday, cruelling Senate president Slade Brockman's chance to help push the button to light up this year's Christmas giving tree.
The job was left to newly-minted House of Representatives Speaker Andrew Wallace, who relished the opportunity to light up the tree alone, joking the senator had "taken off already" and left him to do the hard work.
The giving tree in the Marble Foyer has been a tradition at Parliament House since 2013; politicians, staff and the public donating almost $30,000 since then to charities across Australia. The Speaker of the House and the Senate president traditionally press the button together to illuminate the tree, in a festive gesture of unity.
Mr Wallace, a Liberal National MP from Queensland, was on day three of his new job as speaker, lighting the tree perhaps more pleasurable than policing the politicians in the chamber. He admitted he was still getting used to hearing speaker with his name.
The new speaker was "also a person of faith" who loved this time of year.
"Christmas is a very, very special time around the world and it's not just for Christians, either," Mr Wallace said.
"It's a time for us to remember what's important in the world and that, of course, is our families. I think one thing this place has taught me is that long after we have left this place, our families will still be there."
This year's giving tree charity recipients are the Food Centre in South Australia and the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.
The Food Centre provides fresh groceries to those in need, while the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre provides training, especially to young people.
Food Centre chief executive James Chapman said it was humbled to be selected as one of the giving tree recipients and the donations would make a difference.
"There has been a very significant increase in demand for food relief and financial support families in the community because of the ongoing hardships directly linked to the impact of COVID-19 and escalation in food insecurity," he said.
Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre chief executive Robyn Forester was also proud to have her organisation as a recipient.
"As a national Indigenous leadership centre, we believe in the future of our people, and creating more opportunities for our mob to lead in every aspect of Australian life," she said.
"This contribution will enable us to support more students to access accredited and non-accredited courses in leadership, governance and mentoring."
Thursday's launch was very different to previous years, without the usual choir of Canberra school children. Parliament House is still closed to the public as a COVID precaution but will reopen to visitors on December 4.
Visitors will be able to donate to the giving tree charities via QR codes next to Christmas trees located around the building.
Senator Brockman, a Liberal Senator for Western Australia, said this Christmas would be special after "a very difficult year for many Australians", with COVID chaos across the nation.
Although, the still-new Senate president appeared to have suffered his own special kind of hell.
"It's been a strange year for all of us," he said.
"I've spent five weeks stuck in Canberra and then two weeks locked in a house at home with three young children. Now that's certainly going from the sublime to the ridiculous and I'll let you choose which is which."
Not long after the bells for the division rang, perhaps some cosmic payback for him having a sly dig at Canberra, robbing him of his first chance to light up the tree, after being elected president in October.
As part of Parliament House's reopening to the public next month, Queen's Terrace Cafe will also host a series of festive-themed à la carte lunches and dinners.
