Dear Aunty, this duo should be regulars

Now it's well in the rear-view mirror, all that's left is to await the green and blue smoke from the conclaves of the vanquished. Will it be Sussan or Angus for the Libs? Sarah, Mehreen or Larissa for the Greens? By week's end, we'll know,

Few of us will miss the campaign which, apart from the emphatic result, was pretty humdrum and probably outstayed its welcome by about a week. The huge rush to vote early suggests a large chunk of the population was over it by week three.

But there was one feature of the campaign I will miss. The weekly appearance of two political hasbeens from opposite sides of the spectrum was a highlight for me. Bill Shorten and Christopher Pyne's Thursday night spot on the ABC's 7.30 through the campaign became compulsory viewing.

It wasn't verbal biffo between two former foes that had me glued. Quite the opposite. The bonhomie with which they bounced off each other was a soothing balm after the nastiness on the hustings. Shorten with his zingers, smiling warmly as they fell flat like dud notes from a trumpet. Pyne's high, camp delivery crackling with good humour and quick wit. You couldn't have asked for a better pairing.

These two weren't angry ghosts like some of our former prime ministers. Having left on their own terms - Shorten in January this year, Pyne in 2019 - there was no hint of bitterness, no suggestion of axes still being ground and scores to settle. They took the heat out of the politics and replaced it with laughter. Even the ever-so-serious Sarah Ferguson struggled to suppress a chuckle.

And they both made valid observations.

Their good-natured banter was a reminder that people can hail from vastly different backgrounds, have divergent viewpoints, be polar opposites politically and still get along like old friends. We don't see enough of this in our political discourse.

Now the dust has settled, it's worth remembering some of the great cross-party friendships too often overshadowed by political conflict. Fred Daly and Jim Killen; Ben Chifley and Bob Menzies; Cheryl Kernot and Gareth Evans. Even Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser warmed to each other in retirement.

I'll never forget encountering John Gorton and Fred Daly at the Australian National University's union bar in the late 1970s. They were engaged in a spirited and friendly conversation like two old mates, which served as a good lesson in civility for us students who'd gathered around to listen, not quite believing two old warhorses could make peace after politics.

Last week, Anthony Albanese once again suggested there was conflict fatigue in the community, which helped explain the election result. He's right but should have taken heed of his own counsel. The recriminations between him and Max Chandler-Mather were unnecessary and unsightly. Albo shouldn't have taken the bait when asked about the Greens' loss.

As for Shorten and Pyne, as busy as they are with their day jobs, the ABC would do us all a favour by having them back as 7.30 regulars once parliament resumes in July.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Did you catch Shorten and Pyne during the campaign? If so, what did you think? Have you grown weary of the conflict in politics? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

- Anthony Albanese has warned Labor MPs not to let the government's dominant election victory go to their heads as fresh faces joined the party room. The Prime Minister called for unity and discipline, and for his members not to focus inwards, after two ministers were dumped by their factions.

- Four-time finalist Julie Frager has won the 2025 Archibald Prize with her portrait of her friend and fellow artist Justene Williams. Ms Frager's oil on canvas painting Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene) captures the varied ways the Brisbane artist, who works with video, photography, sculpture and performance, expresses her craft.

- Australian Catholic supremos are welcoming the election of American Robert Francis Prevost as the Pope and say he will emphasise simplicity and community.

THEY SAID IT: "Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." - Martin Luther King jnr

YOU SAID IT: Gina Rinehart wants Australians to embrace Trumpian policies and struggles to understand why they don't. Garry asks whether she should run for office.

"Why are Americans getting it and we aren't? Probably because they've had a few more years to perfect the art of political delusion," writes Mike. "It must be exhausting, being the only person in Australia with the courage to say what no one asked to hear."

Christopher writes: "Now that would be a sight for sore eyes. Gina running - whether it be for public office or the bus, whatever. I don't think we did entirely reject MAGA. We still have people in this country who actually think our country has been great, by studiously ignoring historical truths about the violence on which a few people like Hancock became rich. Our difference from America is that we actually have something approximating a democracy that Gina, Advance and the IPA can't control - although it is in great danger from the refusal of the two grosser parties to do anything to improve truth and integrity in politics. Another difference which Rinehart doesn't understand is that most of us live in a mutually supportive community."

"I think Gina Rhinehart should run for political office - president of any one of the following countries: Russia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Israel," writes Daniel. "But it would be unfair to the citizens of all but one of those countries."

Deb writes: "Gina Rinehart should run for public office, in America, where she can share her wisdom and humanitarian qualities with a much larger audience. We will just have to get by without her in Australia. Australia has rejected the philosophy of the 'Make America Great Again' movement because it stands for me, me, me and to hell with my neighbours, family, community, and my country."

"Once again, the leftological liturgy is being recited. 'Trump is a bad orange man and he and his supporters are out of our control'," writes Murray. "Gina Rinehart is an annoying woman. She hasn't got that to herself either. But being uber rich and a conservative does not make her a bad person. It just makes her a person whose every breath triggers the left. But the rich and successful don't need the approval of those who aren't."

Bill writes: "I have longed wondered why it is that many people who make billions, usually using the ideas and hard work of lesser folks in their employ, ultimately graduate to having very selfish ideas about the people who got them there. Gina takes the cake. Her wealth was created by her father, a hard-nosed bushy (with some nasty views about Aboriginal people) who experienced long periods of austerity on his way up. Took decades, and even then, died before fully exploiting his resources. Being a recipient of wealth herself merely by an accident of birth (and death) she now ironically has a record of preventing any further wealth transfer to her children. And now, for at least this election term, she has backed the wrong horse. She won't stop, and the Nationals will continue to sit up and bark on demand. Apparently, she was not a fan of the Dutton gas plan."

"What makes you think Australia has rejected the MAGA philosophy?" asks Keith. "If you look at the percentage who voted LNP, PHON and Trumpet of Patriots you get a right-wing cohort similar to the percentage of the US electorate identifying as MAGAs. It's only because of our superior preferential, compulsory voting that this didn't translate into a winning hand like in America."

Brian writes: "I fear that many of your readers will say that, because of her wealth, Gina should be paying more. But that would be missing the point. We need to encourage people to strive towards success, rather than try and drag them down. I consider Gina to be an absolute gem who continues to run and buy Australian businesses and farms and keep them Australian. Because, if she didn't, they would be sold to foreign entities such as the Canadian pension funds and Chinese businesses. Gina's speeches are something to be listened to very carefully because of her exceptional business acumen. Unfortunately, our politicians appear to dismiss/ignore her advice."