An indication that the election campaign is driving people overboard is the fact that there will be a Mad Hat Party ( not a political entity ) in the Townsville Breakwater Marina , which will be attended by our thirsty Shipping Reporter. He will be wearing a pith helmet borrowed from gormless Pommie reporter William Boot who was sent to Queensland by doddering media magnate Lord Copper to report on the battleground state colonial election . Boot has no use for the pith helmet as he is in quarantine after contracting bird flu after feeding flocks of Black Finches on his mother's strict instructions .
