The political theatre playing out in Noble Park today would be absolutely hilarious if it weren’t so emblematic of the current state of political discourse in our country. Picture this: a campaign truck plastered with negative slogans about “more debt” and “more crime” getting wedged under a piece of Skyrail infrastructure - the very same infrastructure project that has transformed Melbourne’s suburbs for the better.

Looking at the photos circulating online, there’s a delicious irony in seeing this mobile billboard stuck beneath one of the most successful infrastructure projects our state has delivered. The Skyrail program has eliminated dangerous level crossings, created new public spaces, and improved traffic flow. Yet here we have a campaign literally running headfirst into its success.

For anyone who’s experienced international arrivals at Melbourne Airport recently, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Last week’s return flight from Singapore reminded me yet again why our airport consistently ranks among the most frustrating entry points in the developed world.

The two-step immigration process seems deliberately designed to create chaos. Picture this: tired travelers shuffling through dimly lit corridors, searching for mysteriously hidden kiosks scattered about like some bizarre scavenger hunt. Then comes the real fun - joining a queue that snakes through a bottleneck so narrow it would make a sardine uncomfortable.

Reading about the US government’s recent approval of $3 billion to remove Chinese telecoms equipment brought back memories of conversations I had with colleagues years ago. Back in 2015, while working on a government contract, we were already discussing the potential risks of foreign-made networking equipment. Many dismissed these concerns as paranoid, but here we are.

The cybersecurity landscape has shifted dramatically over the past decade. Working in IT, I’ve watched the gradual evolution from “buy whatever’s cheapest” to implementing zero-trust architectures and carefully vetting hardware suppliers. It’s fascinating how what was once considered conspiracy theory territory has become mainstream security policy.