It was early in 2015, more than 12 months before he was elected to federal parliament, that I received a letter from one Julian Leeser. (“Is this the bravest man in politics?”, Lunch with the AFR, April 15-16).

I had seen him on The Drum, yet we had never met although, like most with an inquiring mind, I did some research. By September 16, 2016, Leeser had taken his seat in the House of Representatives, and he was now my local member.