When a politician is in opposition he is an expert on the means to some end; and when he is in office he is an expert on the obstacles to it.

When I first moved to Hobart I lived in this house, my bedroom was in the window on the left right. The Tasmanian Premier at the time lived in the same street, but somewhat depressingly, I lived in the worst-maintained house in the whole of Battery Point. I blamed Uni housing. The rent was just $45 a week. They've painted the fence and planted some shrubs. It is a vast improvement.

You used to be able to sit in the loungeroom (at the centre of the house), and see outside through the gaps in the walls. The kitchen featured windows to two of the bedrooms. It smelt. One bloke skipped without paying the rent. Another bloke was insane. Seriously, he moved in straight from the psych ward. His counsellor spoke to me about it. He ate all of my food within two days. He didn't flush the toilet. Number twos too. He left lights on an doors open day and night. I moved out within the week. I don't miss it. Much.