Senate Estimates descended into 'Yes Minister' territory last week when the vexed subject of AUKUS came up, following the revelation from deputy PM and defence minister Richard Marles that Australia's best case scenario was now that we would receive three second-hand submarines from the USA during the transition stage of this very expensive project, possibly between 2032 and 2038.

In the kind of move that Labor once derided in their opponents, the government used the cover of the federal budget – while most journalists were literally locked up – to deliver its response to the late Peta Murphy's report into online gambling, 'You Win Some, You Lose More'.

The bookies were right, unfortunately. For the first time since 1996, Pauline Hanson has captured a seat in the House of Representatives via the democratic process, and this time it wasn't in Queensland.

Government is fundamentally about priorities, and we've just seen a striking demonstration of where this government's priorities lie. 160,000 participants are set to be removed from the national disability insurance scheme, presumably because we can't afford it, while multinational gas companies are likely to continue being sheltered from paying a fair rate of tax.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally announced some gambling advertising reform this week, tucked into the end of a speech to the National Press Club with a principal focus on Australia's response to the fallout from the war in Iran, the day after he appeared on national television networks telling Australians not to panic.

As Australia acquiesces in the United States' latest disastrous, illegal war, the Greens last week introduced a bill which would require both houses of parliament to vote before our troops can be sent overseas to engage in conflict. After one hour's debate, this was squashed by the Labor and Liberal parties, despite polls showing 90 per cent of Australians support war powers reform.

The latest release of previously secret Cabinet papers, from 2005, show that John Howard and his government were perfectly aware of the dangers presented to Australia by the emerging climate crisis, but chose to bury their heads in the sand.

If you think it's been a tough year to be a human, consider our fellow earthlings for a moment.

Ballina Shire Councillors are seeking to increase local rates by 26.25 per cent over the next four years. With about $130 million in the bank and an ever increasing commercial property portfolio there is no justification for yet another rate rise.

Tired of being out of the political spotlight, Barnaby Joyce has declared he won't re-contest his New England seat at the next election, supposedly due to dissatisfaction with his party's leadership, but he hasn't yet quit the Nationals, or responded definitively to speculation that he's joining Pauline Hanson's One Nation.