The most comically titled minister in the Rudd government is my local member, the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Every government comes to office promising to reduce onerous regulations; every government leaves office having increased them.

But in a Christmas gesture, regulation is actually being reduced. From today grannies can take their knitting needles on flights, and nail files and metal cutlery are also back. Now if only they could get rid of those ridiculous explosive residue tests as well…

Merry Christmas.