While New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet was busy spending $25 million to build a six-storey high flag pole on top of the Harbour Bridge in a gesture he described as a ‘small price to pay for unity’, Greens Leader Adam Bandt refused to stand in front of an Australian flag because it was ‘offensive’. Is Australia heading towards ‘unity’ with our flags flying side-by-side, or the erasure of colonial heritage? The cancelling of Captain Cook from the Australia versus England Test match crystal Cook Cup suggests the latter. Plenty of commentators graced our TV screens defending the decision, citing Cook’s lack of rugby skills. That may be so, but it wasn’t the reason given for the cancellation. ‘The majority of Indigenous people wouldn’t want that [Cook’s name] on the cup,’ said Glen Ella. It followed comments that Cook was a ‘divisive’ figure. If we are to embrace the Left’s demands for reconciliation (despite having been reconciled for over a hundred years), then both cultures must be celebrated and embraced – not derided and erased.

Australian politicians have spent last week proving that they have learned nothing at all from the global energy crisis. Instead of opening new coal-fired plants or pouring money into reliable and efficient nuclear plants (as the Europeans are doing), our politicians are tripling-down on the Renewables industry. In unrelated (?) news, Australia's cost of living is set to keep rising while our standard of living falls off a cliff. But don’t worry, this trajectory remains in line with the promises of the World Economic Forum. You will own nothing and you will be happy.