SOMETIMES it’s a toss up whether you laugh or cry.

When Senator Eric Abetz, Government Leader in the Upper House, firmly defended those who say there’s a link between abortion and breast cancer, Australia’s collective mind boggled. And though he later denied (sort of) that he personally subscribed to the view, Channel 10 viewers were left in no doubt. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised from a Government that abolishes the ministry of science and pays lip service to climate change.

HIS leader, Tony Abbott, was also caught out when he linked the decision to junk the repeal of the bigotry provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act to the new counter-terrorism measures. Wouldn’t want to offend the Muslims, said Tony.

Trouble is, Muslims aren’t a “race” and are not covered by the Act.

Truth is, that awful Budget and his own missteps have so weakened the Government’s standing that everything’s up for grabs, even his “signature” paid parental leave.  

AND how risible that Attorney-General Senator George Brandis, after making an ass of himself trying to explain the new metadata laws, had to call in the ASIO and AFP heavies to “clarify” his gobbledygook. Turns out not much has changed at all.

TWITTER went wild on all counts; and we’re told Canberrans are the biggest tweeters in the country. No surprises there to anyone who’s worked in journalism in our fair city. We’re a community of strong opinions, usually soundly based in my experience… until, of course, it comes to Israel.

“Sydney Morning Herald” columnist Mike Carlton fell victim to a concentrated fusillade of hate when he dared question the propriety of PM Netanyahu’s bombing Gaza and killing 1800 Palestinian men, women and children. He then, perhaps unwisely, responded. When Fairfax management intervened, I’m not surprised he resigned. But I bet they’ll go back to him on bended knee.

IT’S not just Twitter among the social media that intrigues us. The YouTube video of a Canberra man stabbing himself was an encore to that appalling fight in Canberra’s jail. Both went “viral”, an entirely appropriate description for that nasty virus we might call violent voyeurism.

ANOTHER symptom of the same syndrome is the seemingly endless memorialising of World War I. Our TV screens have been filled for days with the cliché-ridden banalities of the madness that chewed up and spat out a generation of young Australians for no good purpose.

And they justify it with that most specious of entreaties: “Lest We Forget”. Depends what we’re supposed to remember.

EVERYONE’S up in arms about the NSW Liberal MP and veterinarian Andrew Cornwell who took $10,000 for a relatively worthless painting from a building developer. But what about the poor dog he left on the operating table to collect a second 10 grand from the back of a Bentley? What happened to Fido?

ON a warmer note, the highlight of a visit to Tuross this week was the cavorting of two huge whales leaping right out of the water, in unison! Alas, they’re a month earlier than ever before. I wonder why?

robertmacklin.com