Yesterday, federal parliament opened to the now-usual Welcome to Country by Aboriginal elders, followed by the chanting and dancing of Aboriginal performers and their accompanying smoking ceremonies. This was in aid of the obeisance to Aboriginality that has become part and parcel of contemporary political culture.

Also yesterday, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league club, the silvertail spivs of Sydney’s North Shore, were rocked by seven of their first-grade side refusing to wear a so-called ‘pride’ jersey, which they asserted as conflicting with their personal religious beliefs.