Comment

Transparency and integrity are ideals imbued with symbolism, but they have very real practical meaning in our democracy … Together, they mean a government free from corruption and wrongdoing – or at least, a government where wrongdoers are held to account.

A lot of nonsense is peddled about balance of power. Top of the list is the idea that members of the cross bench can sail comfortably through the next period of minority government without a formal agreement with Labor or the Coalition.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been waxing eloquent about his strategy to reclaim seats lost in the last election and to prevent the loss of more. Yet he has consistently failed to address any of the Coalition policy failings behind those losses – principally the issues of integrity in government, gender equality and the need for urgent and substantive climate action.

Federal cabinet concluded its wide-ranging discussion on the government’s electoral prospects on Monday with the consensus that the most opportune time for the prime minister to call the election would be this Sunday, for April 12. There was, however, one big caveat: the gathering menace of Cyclone Alfred.

Australia should expect Chinese activity near its shores and airspace to become more frequent. Still, there are sound military and political reasons for Australia not to make too much of this affair.

This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reassured us he has complete faith in America’s security guarantee. That is not a big surprise. In recent years, as China has challenged the familiar and agreeable American-led order in Asia, both sides of politics have lazily assumed we could depend on the United States to defend that order.

Community independents have already made a very significant contribution to better government in Australia. They have pushed for climate targets and policy responses to achieve them, campaign funding and lobbying reform, gambling advertising reform and improved integrity and accountability in government.

Only a foolhardy politician on the cusp of an election year would insert themselves into the summer holiday rituals of the Australian populace. Better to let the voters enjoy the beach, the barbecues and the cricket than bombard them with anything that looks like blatant electioneering.

My concern of late has been the realisation that the far right is targeting boys and men in its campaign for power. I have observed how material on social media is exploiting men’s propensity to be protectors of their families, especially when they are led to believe there is an enemy at their door. Cue Dutton and a scary minority.

The Christmas present I treasure most from childhood is a book of Greek myths. We didn’t have much and there were no grand gifts or holidays. Our cricket bat was carved out of a fence paling with a tomahawk.