FORMER Oxford boxing blue, Tony Abbott, looked to be going down for the count last week, the more remarkable as there was no one else in the ring.

To be fair, the ghost of former leader Malcolm Turnbull could be briefly glimpsed dancing like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. And the silver-and-gold-haired lawyer Gillian Triggs did run through and clip him with a short jab before leaping back to the bleachers. But as always, the bulky ref, Sir Public Opinion, would make the final decision.

THE war on drugs took a nasty turn with more players from the Gold Coast Titans joining the code-jumping Karmichael Hunt in a widening cocaine scandal. And Canberra athlete Janna Sladic succumbed to a heroin overdose. But while these phony glamour drugs grabbed the headlines, the national report showing the devastating effect of alcohol-related violence on our young people was virtually ignored.

Funded by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, the report revealed that 140,000 children had been significantly affected by someone who drank and more than 10,000 were under child protection because of booze. What’s more, alcohol was responsible for nearly half the domestic violence attacks every year.

NICE to see Chief Minister Andrew Barr heading off to NZ on a mission to secure direct flights to and from the Shaky Isles. Canberrans are mercilessly slugged on the Sydney leg of any overseas flight. It’s so bad that thousands are taking the bus for a fraction of the cost.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce’s boast about turning the airline’s finances around went down like a lead 707 among those of us who have to pay through the neck. Coincidentally, this was the week I cashed in a credit of $338 for a flight not taken. I transferred it to a Sydney-Canberra flight for $325, only to discover there was an extra “change charge” of $88!

Outrageous.

WHY did it take so long for the ACT Government to give Comcare the flick? We all know that insurance companies are just money making machines who will take whatever the market will bear. And $100 million was way over the odds. But surely the Government knew there were at least 200 public servant claimants using it for years to suck at the public teat. And if not, why not?

ENOUGH of the darker side. This week saw the generous donation by Nick Georgalis’ Abode Hotel of a permanent two-bedroom family suite for the loved ones of patients in nearby Canberra Hospital. Lovely gesture, Nick.

JUSTICE John Burns put an end to former Speaker Peter Slipper’s political persecution by letting him off his conviction for rorting Cabcharge vouchers to visit our splendid wineries… some compensation for a life in ruins.

OUR favourite local thespian, Ian Croker, was recognised in “CityNews” for his splendid set-design work on Philo’s forthcoming “Evita” production.

TONY Abbott’s bicycle was ensconced in the Museum of Australian Democracy (days before its rider?).

AND welcome to our very own Friday night noodle market in the parliamentary triangle. Huan Ying!

robert@robertmacklin.com