As governor general, Sam Mostyn has set herself a clear mission – to foster a culture of kindness, care and compassion in Australia. It is her mantra, she says it over and over, and clearly believes it is not only desirable, but possible.

A way of demonstrating Australian values to the world.

The contrast between her heartwarming talk and the brutal language of politics could not be sharper.

It is one thing for those on the fringes to demonise others – fostering fear, envy and anger are their stock in trade. Now a new opposition leader needs to make his mark. Predictably, he immediately suggested more punitive laws.

The urge to punish lies just below the surface in this former penal colony.

The prime minister, who urges everyone else to turn the temperature down, instead joined the pile on to say of the women and children held in the al-Roj camp in Syria by saying he had “nothing but contempt for these people.”

The governor general’s mission might be Sisyphean.

Contempt and kindness are impossible bedfellows.

Over the past 10 days we have seen politicians competing with each other to raise the level of outrage about, and punishment of, a small group of Australian citizens who find themselves trapped in an impossible situation, the product of bad choices, coercion and foolishness.

We may as well give up if we believe that people are incapable of change, and that children must endlessly pay........

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