Predictably, debate over last weekend’s so-called “March for Australia” degenerated into a slanging match between the nation’s three major political parties in the chambers of parliament.

Situation normal.

In the usual tone-deaf response to social division, the parliament again set the example that’s being followed on the streets – when we disagree, we yell at each other. Because unfortunately, political point-scoring is paramount. The future of the nation comes second.

In the Senate, the Greens accused the Coalition of positioning itself to “platform neo-Nazis”.

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The Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie took the debate straight to Israel and Gaza, saying: “Who supported Australian Jews in your team? No one.”

Remarks from Greens senator David Shoebridge condemning the government’s latest steps on offshore detention provoked the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, who said: “You are an absolute disgrace.”

We wonder why our communities seem so angry. While the fringes are certainly the noisiest, there is anger everywhere. On social media, in the mainstream media, in politics and increasingly on the streets.

It was clear to many MPs, I’m sure, during the 2025 election campaign, that the culture wars, conspiracies and cookers who had previously........

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