It seems strange that no one thought of simply leaving Section 59 of the Crimes Act largely intact, and just adding a tighter definition of “reasonable force” so as to exclude the actions of the whip- and baseball bat-wielding nutters that had somehow been excused under the Act as it stood. This would have had the practical result supposedly sought by the new Act and would have been far less divisive at the same time.

Unless, of course, social division and controversy were what the framers of the new law were really seeking. Sue Bradford and her colleagues have enjoyed much more air time than they would otherwise have been given, and Bradford’s name and face are more widely known around the country than she could ever have achieved by paying thousands to an advertising agency.

According to David Niven, Humphrey Bogart used to delight in starting a bar-room brawl then retiring under a table to watch the chaos he had caused. His spirit would appear to be alive and well in the Green Party today.