Throwing open the windows is always a good idea when the air gets stale. It offers the hope of a fresh breeze with good results, though also the risk of a storm bringing chaos in its wake. If there proves to be a little too much wind, we might just decide to bang the window shut or prop it open more conservatively. “Throwing open the windows of democracy” (Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, 19 Apr 2008) is much the same. Some fresh air was a darn good idea for a new government. However the minimalist outcomes just announced possibly reflect a belated realisation that 1000 voices generated more wind than the machinery of government could handle.