In today's edition of Politics As Unusual, the Australian Capital Territory has decided that the best way to solve unsolved murders is to do what every true-crime podcast host has been suggesting for years: throw half a million dollars at it. The ACT is offering a $500,000 reward for information on several cold cases, including a possible victim of Ivan Milat, the backpacker murderer who remains Australia's most reliable source of grim tourism trivia.

Meanwhile, in Queensland, opposition leader David Crisafulli has declared that plans to reduce visas are, in his expert opinion, 'nuts.' Because nothing says sound economic policy like arguing about immigration while the cost of living continues to treat Australians like a piñata.

Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan, perhaps auditioning for a role in a remake of Groundhog Day, insisted that cutting fuel excise when oil prices are high is a 'sensible' plan. He told Anthony Albanese and Labor to 'get out amongst the people and see what's happening in your electorates because people are hurting because of cost of living.' A novel concept: politicians actually witnessing the consequences of their policies.

Tehan also claimed the Coalition has 'the discipline to be able to do the policy work' to offset the inflationary impact of such a cut, which is a bit like saying you have the discipline to eat an entire cake without gaining weight. He pointed to previous fuel excise changes during the war and said the Coalition is now focused on 'more permanent cost of living arrangements, including through the tax system.' Because nothing says 'temporary relief' like permanent tax restructuring.

He added that the sooner the war in the Middle East stops, the better, which is the foreign policy equivalent of saying 'I hope things get better.'

So, to summarise: the ACT is paying for old murder tips, Queensland is anti-anti-visa, and the Coalition is promising to fix inflation by cutting taxes and hoping the Middle East calms down. Welcome to Australian politics, where the only thing higher than the fuel excise is the irony.