Using the full Hansard from 1901 we examine who speaks and how often in parliamentary debate in the House of Representatives. We examine personal characteristics such as parliamentary experience and gender, in addition to institutional factors such as political party, government or opposition, and institutional roles comparing front and backbenchers. As well as set speeches, interruptions are important. Who gets interrupted, how often and by whom. What sorts of topics that get interrupted and which do not and how has this changed over time.
