Watching [Q&A] the other night, it felt like you can’t swing a crucifix in the Federal Parliament without hitting a Christian.

Hello, I'm an economist

I’ve just been back to uni this evening. No, not for classes — having only just graduated over a year ago, I feel I’ve had my fill for now. Instead, I was there to promote the glamorous lifestyle of an economist.

To most, I suspect, this would sound like a tough sell. Economics tends to have a poor reputation in the wider community. Either people don’t know what economists do, or, if they do have some idea, they usually think we can offer tax advice (no, we’re not accountants) or that we can give them tips on which shares to buy (sorry, I’m no financial guru). Those closer to the mark might attack us as the bastards who raise interest rates and cause jobs to be shipped to China.

Beware Greeks blaming speculators

Why carry the can all on your own when you can point the finger of blame at others? So it goes with Greece, who are happy to join leaders from across Europe in attacking speculators for the woes afflicting the country. Apparently it’s unfair that Greece faces higher borrowing costs than Germany. Just one thing — as Stephen Bartholomeusz of Business Spectator points out — the Greeks lied to the markets about the state of their finances. And now they expect investors to just trust them that they’ll be able to repay their debts?

Threatened? By what!

Homosexuality? How do you feel about that?

I’d probably I feel a bit threatened…

I’m not asking if it’s a personal choice of yours.

..as do many people.

When you say ‘threatened’?

Again, Liz, look, it’s a fact of life and I try to treat people as people and not put them in pigeonholes.

Speculators … must know that ‘solidarity’ means something.