So here we are again. The character of our political leaders - indeed, the whole political class - is in the spotlight. Wasn't this last week's big story? You know, when Labor was fending off claims the late Senator Kimberley Kitching was the victim of internal party bullying.
Now, the Prime Minister is in the frame, accused with exquisite timing by outgoing Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells of being a bully. Launched late on budget night, the senator's missile ensured the PM's sell to voters was rocky, if not entirely overshadowed the following morning.
Is this some kind of cruel time loop?
It certainly seems that way on the north coast of NSW, once again under water as the rolling flood disaster returns. Evacuation orders have been issued to numerous towns and localities, many of which are still reeling from last month's inundation. It's hard to fathom the anguish being felt by those caught up in the emergency.
Just as it was during the Black Summer bushfires on the NSW South Coast, the turbocharged climate is the prime suspect in what might be called the Drowned Autumn of 2022.
But if you're after a clue about where the government climate change policy - or lack thereof - is, don't expect the CSIRO to be too forthcoming. Not publicly at least.
David Karoly, CSIRO's former chief scientist at the Climate Science Centre, says he was gagged from speaking publicly about the government's climate policy failings.
Subscribers of The Canberra Times can read more about that here.
Move along, nothing to see here? Quiet Australians? Or quiet, Australians?
Don't try telling the angry and tired nurses of NSW to be quiet. They once again took to the streets in Sydney and across the regions to demand better nurse to patient ratios and pay. Many went on strike for 24 hours in breach of an order from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
It's the second strike in seven weeks and they say they'll do it again and again.
With deaths and hospitalisations rising, COVID also seems intent on an unwelcome encore. COVID-related staff shortages have forced one Canberra school to move to remote learning for a week. Fears are that more could be forced to follow.
And, of course, where you have COVID, you have "cookers" - as anti-vaxxers, chemtrail gurus and 5G fright merchants are known. They've been annoying our national capital for what seems like an eternity and police are warning they're likely to keep doing so for the foreseeable - at least until the first savage frost sends them packing.
Me? I'm stepping off this treadmill for a few hours. I have a stack of old Bruce Willis movies to re-watch.
