Pity the poor forecaster. It is as certain as anything can be that the forecasts underpinning tomorrow’s budget will be wrong. The chaos about to engulf Europe will see to that. The government needs to start back-tracking on its budget surplus commitment ASAP.

One lesson from Greece. When the public loses faith in established political parties, new ones can emerge very quickly. Labor especially should consider that. The German Pirates Party points to the same thing with its appeal to the tech-savvy young.

And a Tasmanian hint. From 43% in 2006 to 19% at the weekend. That was the Labor effort in the election for the Legislative Council seat of Hobart. The Greens with 22% pushed Labor into third place behind the likely winner who stood as an independent.

Not a little but a lot. Hypocrisy and politicians are a natural fit but jovial Joe Hockey takes the mating to an extreme level. After joining in the chorus to besmirch Peter Slipper’s reputation without waiting for any trial, he is now attacking Labor for casting aspersions on the Speaker’s accuser.

I suppose it was what we should have expected. The Liberals after all pounced on the allegations about cheating on expenses without a thought to how all those years ago they were happy to have the Labor deserter Senator Mal Colston’s vote when he was actually facing criminal charges.

Such is the morality of political life.