Chip, chip chip. Under the cover of COVID-19, the federal government is chipping away at the rights of small investors – the same small investors that helped it retain office at last year’s election.

This is perfectly illustrated by the fact that Geoff Wilson, who last year led an exceptionally effective campaign against Labor’s attempt to kill off franking credit refunds, is set to lead his army of 90,000 retail investors into battle against the government’s proposal to make temporary rules allowing virtual annual general meetings permanent.