If anyone still wonders why so many people can’t be bothered to vote, the last few days has probably answered provided the answer. The debate amongst senior politicians over an MP’s dress sense was banal and rude, and from a woman’s perspective, just plain embarrassing. Some of the comments were so mean they would have had teenage girls called immediately to the Principal’s Office.

However it did highlight another issue, the misconception amongst the political right that activist groups and political parties concerned with fighting poverty and inequality, such as the Greens and the Alliance, demand austerity – that we believe that no one should have any fun or treats or own nice things. Continue reading →