It's only a little thing, given that most political issues of substance have been settled long before they reach anybody we could actually vote for, but I for one feel greatly relieved. It does feel good to know that the third-highest political office in the land, after the Governor General and Gina Rinehart, is no longer occupied by a punch-drunk hooligan. We may be setting the bar a bit low for ourselves, but that after all is the Australian way.