The spirit of Salem has come to Australia’s federal parliament with a 21st century twist; woke witches subject their conservative quarry to show trial by media. In colonial Massachusetts in 1692, all an accuser had to do was lodge a ‘credible’ complaint for a ‘witch’ to be arrested. Torture was used to attempt to secure a confession but it was enough for the victim to see a black cat in a vision to establish the guilt of the accused beyond all doubt.