In the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, a British spy who had been cryogenically frozen for 30 years awakens and discovers himself in the 1990s. Although decades have passed, Austin hasn't changed at all – he's as bumbling and inexplicably shagadelic as he was in the 1960s.
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At Senate estimates briefings on Monday night, Liberal senator Eric Abetz had his Austin Powers moment.
During his parliamentary career, the proud social conservative became renowned for his estimates battles with ABC managing director Mark Scott. Like a hunting dog in search of a rabbit, Abetz would chase down the merest hint of left-wing bias with fierce determination.
His appearances became so hotly anticipated they attracted their own Twitter hashtag: #Abetztimates.
Then, with the arrival of the Abbott government, it came to a screeching halt. Because Abetz was a member of cabinet, he was no longer able to question ABC officials on the ideological composition of Q&A panels or the number of coffee machines at Ultimo.
While other Coalition senators gave it a go, none who followed could match him. Estimates without Eric were like a meat pie without sauce or Christmas without watching Love Actually: wrong, wrong, wrong.
Now, after being dumped from cabinet by Malcolm Turnbull, he's back baby.
As if 2013 had never come and gone, Abetz returned ready for a ding dong battle. First up was his cause celebre: same-sex marriage.
Abetz, who opposes same-sex marriage, wanted to know what action had been taken since Media Watch accused the broadcaster of not giving enough airtime to gay marriage opponents.
Media Watch had found that two key spokespeople for marriage equality had been interviewed 32 times in early August, compared to just 12 interviews with spokespeople opposing gay marriage.
Scott's defences that the ABC presents "a plurality of views and perspectives" on the issue went down like a plate of foie gras at a vegan dinner party.
"If you give 1 per cent to one side and 99 per cent of the time to the other side, that is the airing of plurality of views according to the ABC," Senator Abetz said.
Then it was on to that old favourite: the ABC's coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Abetz was mightily displeased the ABC had appointed Sophie McNeil – a two-time winner of Walkley Young Journalist of the Year Award – as its Middle East correspondent. McNeil, according to Abetz, had expressed admiration for journalists John Pilger and Robert Fisk, both of whom have been highly critical of Israel.
"I am just wondering what research was done into Ms McNeill's attitude to matters [in the] Middle East before her appointment and whether it is appropriate to allow somebody in that position to allow their emotions to get into their reporting," he asked.
Scott, who had been well-briefed on the issue, was ready for the attack. While he hadn't overseen McNeil's appointment, he thought she was well-qualified for the role given she had spent years reporting from the region. Her reporting has been excellent, he added.
With time scarce and the Senate division bells ringing, it was all over too soon. With Scott scheduled to retire next year, we can only hope there's a sequel.
