Addressing the Real Issues

With the coming Coalition domination of the Senate and Abbott reigned in, the Liberal backbench can finally exert some influence on social policy. Inspiringly, they're going to tackle child-care by examining that most pressing social issue: the high price of nannies in today's world (The Sunday Age, 5/12). Their solution - subsidies through tax relief - is the kind of creative, bold and forwarding-thinking policy that we'd expect from such a famously diverse group of politicians.

I look forward to grants for gardeners, bursaries for butlers, concessions for chauffeurs, payments for pool-boys and please - while you're at it, bring back the tax-deductible working lunch! (The Age, 7,12).

John Howard's warnings against arrogance and contempt are now just a faint echo.