What
were we saying last week about Terence Cole’s sense of drama? The Deputy Prime
Minister is in the witness box this afternoon, and we’ve learnt this morning
that the PM is supplying the Commissioner with a written statement.

Cole
seems to have orchestrated a Wagnerian crescendo. Is this the Government’s
Gotterdammerung? Well, the waiting may go on longer than the Ring cycle.

Last
week’s Coalition Party Room meeting was informed – by Mark Vaile, ironically –
that Cole would not report until June. This is supposed to be the final week of
hearings. Plenty of drama is expected – drama that could even overshadow next
month’s budget.

The government may face a Flying Dutchman journey as it waits Cole’s judgement day.