As Tony Abbott and so many of his cabinet colleagues are Catholics, they will naturally be aware that 3rd February was the Feast of the Armenian bishop and martyr, St. Blaise, often invoked for protection against injuries to the throat and its illnesses.
Perhaps they might persuade the local parish frequented by the cabinet to use a pair of large sharpened garden shears instead of the customary pair of candles to bless the PM’s tonsils. He might care to emulate the martyr for the sake of his country if not for the faith. An appropriate feast day to resolve leadership problems, one would think.
John Araneta of Asquith, NSW