SINCE the spectators at the great election race all seem to have nodded off, we turned our attention to the local contest where the Barr-Rattenbury government is pleading for another term at the helm of the good ship ACT.

Captain Barr spent most of the week on the PA spruiking the wonders of his Budget, which he assured us charted a course to peace and prosperity. Indeed, he said, at its “heart” would be a “cohesive, co-ordinated response to family violence”. No one could argue with that, except that he generally dealt with issues after the violence took place.

His answer to preventing it was “education, counselling and drug and alcohol treatment”. And that’s a very long row to hoe.

He was on slightly firmer ground in boosting our links with Asia and the bonanza that visitors bring to the Budget’s Plimsoll line. But no mention of Shane Rattenbury’s 939-pound gorilla in the stateroom: that money-hungry Gungahlin tram.

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson was barely seen or heard – obviously keeping his powder dry for a broadside from his Liberal gunship once Barr nails his colours to the mast.

DESPITE the widespread lack of interest, PM Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison could barely contain themselves at the GDP’s annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent. They reckoned it was all due to their marvellous handling of the economy despite the fact that in parts of Queensland and WA it shrank by 2 per cent and in Sydney it grew by 5. Honestly, politicians have no shame.

IF you doubt it, consider Zed Seselja and Andrew Leigh who, we learned, claim $86 a day for just turning up to Parliament or committee meetings on top of their very substantial salaries. Bouquets to Gai Brodtmann and Katy Gallagher for declining the “entitlement”. And as for those former (male) pollies, Labor’s Barry Cunningham, Tony Lamb and Barry Cohen, and Liberal John Moore appealing to the High Court for even more “entitlements”, they should be tarred, feathered and run out of town.

THE good news on the election front is the puncturing of “Daffy Donald” Trump’s presidential ambitions. Hillary Clinton raised the terrifying prospect of his finger on the nuclear button; and when combined with accusations of fraud from his collapsed Trump University, the big balloon started deflating like a busted bag of wind.

POWERFUL report from the Centre for Policy Development showing our school system “in decline”. Coincidentally, the ABC screened part one of a fascinating doco, “Revolution School” that once again revealed the key to improved results isn’t class size or flash computers but the interaction between teacher and pupil. Gee, who knew?

FORMER Queenslanders (like your columnist) savoured yet another State of Origin win. But next morning the game was hit with a police investigation into match-fixing at NSW club level. It was yet another blow to Rugby League, which really is yesterday’s game.

AND in nice counterpoint, Canberra’s heritage activists might well have vetoed the Greater Western Sydney club’s proposed re-development of Manuka Oval and surrounds, but the team itself is doing brilliantly this year. Pity we can’t jump on that Aussie Rules bandwagon – it’s the footy of the future.
robert@robertmacklin.com