Season of goodwill: What’s this about Sophie Panopoulos sending out Christmas cards featuring a woman of obvious Middle Eastern appearance – wearing head covering?

Doing the numbers: The South Australian ALP has chosen five Legislative Council candidates for next March’s state election, although winning six places looks possible on current polling. Discussion of this on Adelaide ABC radio provoked a call from eccentric state Attorney-General Michael Atkinson with the message that a further candidate would be chosen in the New Year. The newsroom started ringing round Labor contacts, including Atkinson’s tribal chief and Shoppies’ Godfather Don Farrell. It was news to him.

A defence to warm Queensland hearts: Ron Boswell is “a modern day Joh,” former federal Nationals leader John Anderson writes in today’s Australian. Strange. We never knew he was a crook who turns a blind eye to – if not actually indulges – institutionalised corruption at the very highest levels of his state. Odd lot, these Nats. Let alone Queenslanders.