We are naturally reluctant as a peace-loving people to reach out to far-away conflicts but, as we know, this conflict has been reaching out to us for months now.

Here we go again, a government which is making yet more excuses for yet more failure when it comes to getting our budgetary situation right.

My mum and mad were both very generous, encouraging parents.

I'm still getting my exercise at five o'clock in the morning, that's good. So far I've managed to hold on to a bike ride on Saturday or Sunday morning, probably at least two weekends out of three.

Like the Governor-General, when asked what you enjoy most about the job my tendency is to say "today", because of the insights you get into our nation and because of the privileged contact you have with so many people.

We just can’t stop people from being homeless if that’s their choice.

A tax cut to compensate for a tax increase is not a cut - it's a con.