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Dear Santa,

You may have misinterpreted some of the things I’ve said this year but that's not my fault. I have always told the truth. This year I have taken responsibility for fixing everything. Anything that isn’t working perfectly now is all Labor’s fault. This Christmas I would like the same as last year; a new bike and, when I come back from my skiing holiday, a bushfire with lots of photo opportunities.

Tony. Age: Mid-twenties

Dear Santa,

The economy you gave me for Christmas last year isn’t working. Can I have another one please?

Man, having the gift of speech and the sense of right and wrong, is by nature a political animal.
- Artistotle, Politics, Book I

85 = The richest people on the planet whose combined wealth is greater than the poorest 3.5 billion

80% = The portion of the world’s population who live on less than $10 per day

3 billion = The number of people who live on less than $2.50 per day

1.3 billion = The number of people who live on less than half that amount

1 billion (47.6%) = The number (and proportion) of children living in poverty

22,000 = The UN estimate of how many children die each day due to malnutrition and preventable diseases

This Saturday is the opportunity for Victorians to rid themselves of the Napthine government, which has managed to be bumbling and boorish. But before voting it is worth remembering what the the past four years have been like - and a final reminder of in whose interests they are governing.

"Will it be left to critics of the ABC to launch a crowdfunding campaign, so that the ABC can be funded by its supporters rather than taxpayers? Why shouldn't ABC supporters put their money where their mouth is? How can they object to that?
Free the ABC from government! and Don't force taxpayers to fund what they don't consent to!"
- Gina Rinehart on Facebook today.

Governments make laws but it is the legal system which interprets those laws. Our rights are protected not by the Government but by a legal system that attempts to protect our rights by ensuring those laws are applied equally and fairly to all. So a look at how Governments treat the legal system in this country is a good look at what they think of the people they govern.

The death of former Labor Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, has unleashed a national reaction that is seldom seen when a major political figure dies. His death at 98 marks the end of an era when ordinary Australians were able to exert real pressures in shaping the political programs of this country's major political parties. The list of reforms that became law between 1972 and 1975 encompassed all areas of human activity in this country.

Died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 11th October 2014. He is survived by his wife Linda, his son Graham, his sisters Hellen and Sandra and brother Steven. His other brother Malcolm died in 2012.

Late on Thursday night the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014 was passed by the Senate without debate or scrutiny.

Introducing Saudi Arabia, our new ally in the War on Terror. Last month Saudi Arabia publicly beheaded 23 people for crimes including possession of hashish, adultery, sedition, blasphemy, apostasy, sorcery and witchcraft. About half of all people executed in Saudi Arabia are foreigners. Saudi courts, which are held in closed session, found a number of people sentenced to death were mentally unfit, but executed them anyway. Not that those courts are usually required.