Our cynical and selective compassion

But Mr Costello has decided to accept a tsunami relief donation from a gambling group, Clubs NSW, because “this crisis is a humanitarian crisis beyond any differences, and even my well-known public stance on gambling”.

According to Mr Costello, the level of devastation he saw in Sri Lanka was worse than what he had seen in Sudan and other parts of Africa. So one assumes that if there is ever - one dearly hopes there is not - another crisis that dwarfs the Boxing Day tsunami, Mr Costello will take donations from armaments companies or even tobacco companies.

Because that is the logic of his position.

The reality of the tsunami crisis is this: Humanity is always worth saving. Wherever abuse and suffering occurs, be it meted out by governments, humans or nature, we must not respond selectively. The Bahktiyaris, the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, the people of southern Sudan and the Congo deserve our passion and commitment in the same way as the victims of the tsunamis.

But they are not getting it, and that is a real tragedy.