You
couldn’t help seeing them in various corners of the Press Gallery last week.
Discarded green wristbands. Some worthy cause had had its hopes thrown aside?
No. These said “www.saveourwhales.gov.au”. They were part of a ministerial
media kit designed to “raise awareness of whale protection measures within the Australian
community”.

A
ministerial wristband. The whole concept must be officially dead, now that it’s
been pimped out by politicians. Otherwise, what next? Kabbalah string from
Peter Costello? Tony Abbott anti-Da Vinci Code rosaries?

And, by the
way, keep an eye out for the banner ads promoting DFAT’s “Doing Business in the
Middle East and Africa” seminars while you’re checking
your email. They keep popping up on lots of sites. The Department has to do
something to keep those old AWB liaison officers busy.