CANBERRA

“WHY ARE WE waiting for the Americans to ask us to the Persian Gulf? This is existential for Australia. We should be there already, organizing the opening of the Straits of Hormuz.”

Alf, a New South Wales farmer waiting for diesel that hasn’t arrived, to plant his winter crops, is close to tears as he speaks. He shakes his head.

“Some Government mongrel says they haven’t been asked to help the Americans to keep the Persian Gulf open. Haven’t been asked? What are we, a teenage sheila at a party waiting to be asked to dance? Fuck, it’s incredible that the Government can come out with this and remain in office. Where’s the Royal Australian Navy? What is it doing? When we have no fuel, is that when Canberra might think of doing something?”