Perhaps you are having trouble getting started because you are suffering a bout of post-2012 blues. It was a lousy year in many ways, not the least of which is the fairly low regard in which our federal Parliament is now held. Australians used to joke about whingeing Poms but I fear we have adopted that rather unattractive trait as our own. True enough the federal Parliament, indeed most of the parliaments, did not cover themselves in glory in 2012. I am not defending that. It is just interesting that so many people who are happy to put the boot into parliamentarians do not appear to have tried to excel in their own work. We have a new class of people who appear quite happy to just be critical of others for not meeting the excellence bar. That the Parliament is deemed by many to have underperformed does create an air of despondency. After all, if the government keeps wanting to make it harder for those with more, what's the point in busting your gut to get kicked in the guts? The answer is simple. Just do not look to the parliament as an example what is good in Australia.

Australia is much better than a quick look at our question time would have you believe. Australia is richer, stronger, better, more productive, more innovative than our Parliament. We are made of better stuff. Just look around you for oceans of inspiration. Take the coppers that go out everyday into uncertain streets to help keep you and your kids safe. Decent men and women who are always at risk and every year we lose some. Then there's the volunteer firefighters. Normal citizens volunteering in very risky situations to help their community. Sadly, we lose some of them too. Volunteers are everywhere. Visit a hospital and see volunteers doing their bit to help others. In every community in so many different ways Australians give time to help each other and their community. Even in the lives of those who do not take on dangerous roles or manage to volunteer, we can see examples of goodness, decency goodwill and determination that will inspire. Take Deb, the hairdresser whose kids have, sometimes with tough love, been taught the value of hard work, of earning their own money and telling the truth. Deb and the thousands of mothers like her are the heroes producing the next generation of decent Australians. Parents of spoilt brats please take note. Australians used to joke about whingeing Poms but I fear we have adopted that rather unattractive trait as our own.

Then there's Angela, the small business owner who, having had a brush with breast cancer in November, was back doing some work in December. As she says to customers surprised to see her, "You have to get on with it". Moaners, groaners and hypochondriacs please take note. I need to mention Jeanette, another small business owner, who leaves a note by the cash register to remind herself that she overcharged me last time. Seven months later I walk in to be greeted with ''Gee, sorry we over-charged you last time, we'll knock it off the bill today.'' Greedy business people who fail to follow the ''do unto others'' rule, please take note. Then there's all the people who work in fairly low paid jobs with little other reward. They look after our kids, our elderly and without them so many industries would just shut down. Professionalism and pride in a job well done are not the province of the lucky, the rich or the well educated. Elites: please take note.

Loading Yes, I hope for a higher standard in our Parliament this year. No, I do not look there for inspiration. I look around at the Australia that is much, much more than that. With 51 weeks left, I think I will use these normal Australians as my inspiration to get on with it. Look around, you'll see great Australians everywhere, that'll get you going. Amanda Vanstone is a former Liberal senator.