Some talk ain't cheap

Glasgow University's John Dunn, reporting in the staff newsletter on the latest senate meeting, reveals that senators "levelled the most fearsome of accusations with a courtesy, a graciousness and a sense of decorum that was wondrous to behold". Dr Dunn believes this offers the prospect of boosting external income: "The likes of Dennis Skinner, Vladimir Zhirinovski (recently suspended from the Russian parliament) and sundry Australian politicians could be charged huge sums of money for attending senate to learn the subtle skills of assassination by rhetoric."