for so many this year, but especially for Audrey Watters I live in a very small Australian seaside community, with 5600 others. It’s within easy reach of major cities including Sydney, so we’re not exactly isolated. But the non-negotiable topography of Thirroul—ocean on one side, escarpment on the other—keeps commercial development at human scale. I can walk the length of the town. My kids all went to the local primary school. I know the local pathology collectors; I see the two of them at the shops…

“I think it’s a sad reflection on the modern Australian attitude that they can’t see that all areas have to make a contribution and they look at it as a narrow, sectional issue.” Commission of Audit Chair, Tony Shepherd, on responses to the Federal Budget, May 23* This week my daughter turned fifteen, and she went to the doctor—a political act in modern Australia. She went because of a constellation of puzzling symptoms which we’ve been sort of monitoring for a few months….

I can think of no more significant benefit from community contributions in health than to invest in cure and discovery research by our people for our people … As a result, it may be an Australian who discovers better treatments and even cures for dementia, Alzheimer’s, heart disease or cancer. If we start investing now, this new and historic commitment in medical research may well save your life, or that of your parents, or your child. Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey, Budget…