We’ve all been there.

Eyelids heavy, you try your hardest to stay alert.

But the long hours at work catch up with you and — despite your best efforts — you nod off. And jolt awake, before your head drops once more. And again.

Unfortunately for Ian Goodenough, the Federal member for the WA seat of Moore, his micro-sleeps were captured by the House of Representatives cameras and broadcast live across the nation on the parliamentary website.

The lapse of consciousness could have reflected a lack of interest in Liberal colleague Andrew Laming’s criticisms of the Opposition’s emissions reduction policy.

But Mr Goodenough said it was rather because of a pesky knee injury that had been keeping him awake.

“I was a little tired yesterday,” Mr Goodenough told thewest.com.au.

“I have been hobbling around Parliament House this week due to a leg injury and had trouble sleeping at night.”

Mr Goodenough is just the latest in a long and distinguished line of politicians who have been snapped taking a snooze on the floor of Parliament.

Other honourable nappers include crossbench senator Derryn Hinch, former Palmer United leader Clive Palmer, South Australia’s Nick Xenophon, former speaker Peter Slipper and former deputy prime minister Warren Truss.