Mocking, abusing or vilifying Labor leaders is morally repugnant. Mocking, abusing or vilifying Liberal leaders is cool. Such is the philosophical bent of what passes for the Left in Australia these days.

Last week saw a visiting American heavy metal band decapitate on stage a man dressed as Tony Abbott. It was a pantomime stunt as unoriginal as any of their highly derivative punk music; they have previously decapitated George Bush and Barack Obama among others, so Mr Abbott was in good company.