Why Aussie MPs sit fewer days than others

When some MPs say politicians should sit more days, Speaker Tony Smith recalls what North Queenslander Warren Entsch once told him.

While Mr Smith could be back in his Victorian electorate in about three hours after boarding his Thursday night flight, it would take Mr Entsch until Friday night to return home.

Speaking at the launch of an exhibition marking 90 years since the opening of Old Parliament House, the Speaker said Canberra was like Washington DC in that it was built as a nation's capital.

But unlike the US Congress, Australian MPs sit fewer days and don't effectively live in Canberra.

Instead, they get out in their electorates and bring their experiences to parliament.

Occasionally you'll get colleagues who say they could sit more days and fewer hours, Mr Smith said.

"But you know it's a big country, some people travel a long way to get here."

And often it takes all Friday to get home.

Reflecting on his more than 18 months in the Speaker's chair, Mr Smith said the parliament shouldn't always be loud or rude, but it should be robust.

"It is a debating chamber - it is not a classroom or a church."

He defended his record of booting out MPs - far fewer than his predecessor Bronwyn Bishop, noting they have included ministers on his own side.

Asked about any blow-back, Mr Smith joked not that he knew of.

"There are some regular customers," he admitted.

"If a minister is out of line and I've been throwing people out then of course I'll throw them out."

His electoral neighbour Michael Sukkar who recommended he be Speaker was quite bewildered when he was given his marching orders.

"He took it all very well," he said.

Mr Smith said he made the decision not to attend partyroom meetings while in the role because perceptions of impartiality mattered.