It’s not just the problem of dual-citizenship; the Coalition Government we elected has failed to do the job expected of them, largely because a section of that government has always had its own agenda. They have put their own personal policies and prejudices ahead of what they were elected to do.

It’s not only the current Gilbertean situation with MPs falling from their perches because of that citizenship fiasco. There was a time when things were different, such as when Malcolm Turnbull had reached an agreement with Labor on methods to help protect the world from climate change. This bi-partisan approach was destroyed by that far right group in Mr Turnbull’s own party, and that group has steadily stymied just about every move by the Prime Minister even since. 

The people need the opportunity to elect a new government and, in doing so, need a clearer understanding of what the various candidates really stand for. Labor has always had its divisions but the ALP does give a picture of a group prepared to put their differences aside for the sake of the party and their country. 

Not so the Liberals. There is a section of the governing Liberal Party that has its own agenda and that agenda is blatantly conservative, not liberal.

These are the people who showed their real agenda in that 2014 budget which was so extreme it was turned down by the parliament. It seemed to indicate, for example, that they would love to see our health system privatised. 

There is nothing wrong with politicians having their own agendas but they should not hide those policies under a false name – it was not the type of policy we have come to expect from a Liberal Party. It doesn’t mean we should not elect a right-wing group but only if we are given an honest appraisement of their policies well before any election – and we are informed of those candidates who favour this sort of change.

It is only fair that the electors are aware of the real agendas of the various politicians and it would be much fairer if the present far-right wing members of the Liberal Party were honest and started their own Conservative Party – or, at least, made the voters aware of their personal agendas.

The voters might support such a party, but it is unconscionable for them to stand for election under a Liberal banner.

That postal vote on same sex marriage has had an unexpected result. It brought the issue to a head and now the pollies will have to make their decision.

The vote not only brought on that resolution in Parliament but it also might encourage more people to think about, and maybe accept, the gender differences between people.

It seems so easy when a baby is born, to give it a label (a dangly bit and it’s a boy - no dangly bit, it’s a girl) and for most of us that sets the pattern for the rest of our lives – but it doesn’t always work that way. Our sexuality is also, very strongly, set in our brains, and sometimes the brain and the physical aspects of our bodies don’t match. Again, it is not our decision and we should accept that.

Currently there is an international campaign against some rich and powerful men for their aggressive behaviour towards women. Someone once said that ‘power is the greatest of all aphrodisiacs’ – for example, the dominant male lion attracts a large pride of females. It’s called ‘survival of the species’ and the offspring of the strongest are most likely to survive. 

Sure, we have evolved as clever animals and do amazing things – but we are still part of the animal kingdom and that is something that dominates our male-female relationship.

There have been outbursts of indignation about sexual harassment in universities and in the workplace but no-one has published a guidebook for the young males on what is, and what is not, acceptable. Surely, if the rules are being broken so regularly it would only be fair for the boys to be taught the rules. That isn’t asking much but it is important because, without it, lots of people, male and female, who might go through life without finding a long-term mate because of those rules that they don’t want to break. 

As part of that animal kingdom most males are programmed to be the aggressors and for this they pay a big price. In some species the males will fight for the right to father as many children as possible.

Sure, males are supposed to be tough but statistics show it’s not easy being a human male.

They have a far higher rate of death and injury in the workplace, they take on the most dangerous jobs, more males commit suicide than females, their life expectancy is about four years less than that of women (and women inherit the family fortune if there is one), and more men die from prostate cancer than women die from breast cancer.

The news item on the TV said that “nearly 20 people died, including women and children” – this seems to infer that it is worse for women and children to die than it is for men.

And, in all the criticisms of inequality of the sexes we should never forget that humans are still, despite our brilliant achievements, part of the animal kingdom. It is a pity that some critics seem to forget that.