On deaf ears

CAN we believe federal Labor MP David Bradbury's declaration that his eardrums are untouched by criticism of the mining tax?

WHICHEVER side one takes in the mining tax debate, it would have been difficult to avoid raising an eyebrow at federal Labor MP David Bradbury's declaration on Sky News's AM Agenda yesterday that wherever he goes, his eardrums are untouched by criticism of the aforementioned tax.

At first we thought there was a chance Bradbury didn't hear anything as his lugholes were still ringing from the bellowing of mining magnates atop flatbed trucks all those months ago. But no, he's been out there in the community and only encountering the non-disgruntled (or the gruntled, if you prefer). "Frankly," he said, "I can't find anyone that's opposed to this mining tax." When AM Agenda host Ashleigh Gillon suggested that the "no critic" line might just represent a teensy bit of a trial separation from reality, Bradbury suddenly displayed a tetchiness at odds with his usual sunny smile: "Are you arguing the case for the opposition on this one?" Which is kind of droll when you consider that the most specific example Gillon cited was Andrew Wilkie. Still, better call a media inquiry just to be on the safe side.

Falling flat

A PRESS release heading that could have been worded a little differently this week: "Bombing of Darwin Anniversary to boost tourism bucks."

Batty about bats

WHEN discussing the air of combativeness that characterises the political discourse in our otherwise well-off country, the focus tends to be on the main parties. But let us for a moment forget their skirmishes and see how the (thus far) smaller parties are cranking up the belligerence and gearing up for war. Here's Australian Party big banana Bob Katter, who has turned out what by even his exalted standards is a stoutly non-pussyfooting press release. It is headlined: "Time to restore our rights in battle against killer bats." Declares His Bobness of the diseased flying fox menace: "Two of my dozen closest friends in Innisfail have had serious hospitalisation with leptospirosis. Only people with a very sick set of values would prevent people from defending themselves against this scourge." Good, solid language, but Katter is only warming up, going on to rail against the injustice of all these people being attacked while "not a single diseased bat has paid a price". At the other end of the spectrum (and, indeed, the nation), the Tasmanian Greens have just as ruthlessly (if notably less floridly) declared war on feral poppies. First they came for the tall ones . . .

All's fair . . .

WE'RE troubled by the thought anyone could think of Fairfax Media in anything but a warm manner, so we were struck by former NSW premier Kristina Keneally's diary in the latest The Spectator Australia. Here she is reflecting on being part of a panel discussion with social researcher Hugh Mackay and The Sydney Morning Herald economics scribe Ross Gittins on the topic of what constitutes a good life: "I conclude that my life now is neither better nor worse than before, just vastly different -- and that my happiness comes from within, not from my external circumstances. One of the questions posed to me is: 'What should the government do to support good lives?' When I point out that I'm not in government any more, Ross quips: 'Nor are you likely to be for a long time.' The crowd laughs. 'Maybe,' I reply, 'but my poll numbers never fell as fast as the Fairfax share price.' The crowd applauds. Man, that felt good! I've been waiting for two years to use that line." Probably a case of better out than in.

Fill in the blanks

THE lurid trial of Michael Jackson's doctor is just about enough to drive one to turn off the television and bung Thriller on the stereo. Or alternatively, pick up sibling Jermaine Jackson's freshly released tome, You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes. Let it be said that when tackling what must have been a painful subject, frere Jackson does so with a striking turn of phrase: "To me, the whole debate about his sexual orientation was preposterous. I think people misinterpreted the fact he was a workaholic. People saw an unmarried man with a penchant for make-up, child-like things, with no facial hair, and an attachment to a chimpanzee, then filled in the blanks."

Numbers in action

MEANWHILE in cock-up corner (where we fly a helium-filled, rooster-shaped balloon as our mascot) we'd like to thank attentive Strewth readers for the gentleness with which they pounced on our conclusion in our Craig Emerson item yesterday that 100 minus 83 leaves a grand total of 27. And to think we let off Emmo with a caution for getting the Newspoll figures so wrong. Here's one kind reader, Paul Brewer, demonstrating how to apply a rebuke clad in velvet: "The disagree block of course must have been 17 per cent, about where Labor's primary vote is likely to end up. But I'll let you off with a caution, 'cause you make me laugh." So we let ourselves down, our team, our nation, and possibly even our pets. But if it put a sparkle in Emmo's eye, it may just have been worth it.