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Liberal backbencher Ian Goodenough struggled to stay awake in Parliament
Perth-based member for Moore fell asleep as Liberal MP spoke about energy
Mr Goodenough confirmed he had a sore leg and didn't sleep the night before

By Stephen Johnson For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:02 EST, 29 November 2018 | Updated: 00:02 EST, 29 November 2018

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A Liberal MP fell asleep in Parliament as his party colleague was delivering a speech on energy.

Backbencher Ian Goodenough repeatedly closed his eyes and nodded off as Andrew Laming spoke about the merits of coal-fired power and reliable electricity.

The Perth-based member for Moore certainly appeared to be out of energy during a House of Representatives speech in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon.

As Mr Laming, the Brisbane-based member for Bowman, stood up to speak Mr Goodenough, a former accountant, nodded politely.

Before the first minute of the 4pm speech, his eyelids appeared to be heavy but they didn't fully close.

After the four-minute mark, he really struggled, closing his eyes and leaning towards his microphone.

On several occassions, he opened his eyes and nodded only to close them again, doing this until Mr Laming had finished his five-minute matter of public importance address, which covered rising electricity prices and Labor's renewable energy targets.

A Liberal MP fell asleep in Parliament as his party colleague was delivering a speech on energy

Backbencher Ian Goodenough (right) repeatedly closed his eyes and nodded off as Andrew Laming (left) spoke about the merits of coal-fired power and reliable electricity

Mr Goodenough, a member of Parliament since 2013, told Daily Mail Australia he had not slept well the night before.

'I was a little tired yesterday afternoon,' he said on Thursday.

'As you have probably noticed I have been hobbling around Parliament House this week due to a sore leg and not been sleeping too well at night.'

Many Liberal MPs in marginal seats have been lying awake at night, following backbencher Julia Banks's defection on Tuesday from the party to the crossbench.

The first-term Melbourne-based member for Chisholm blamed a 'reactionary and regressive right-wing' for her decision to quit Prime Minister Scott Morrison's minority government.

Another Liberal backbencher has flagged quitting the party, with the Sydney-based member for Hughes Craig Kelly floating the idea of running as an independent at the next election as he faces a preselection challenge from a moderate.

Many Liberal MPs in marginal seats have been lying awake at night, following backbencher Julia Banks's defection on Tuesday from the party to the crossbench (she is pictured with independents Kerryn Phelps and Cathy McGowan)