The ocker shockers have always been good at claiming ours as theirs.

In the past they have laid claim to actor Russell Crowe, although given some of his antics in recent times, they are welcome to him. They have also claimed that muso Neil Finn's one of theirs which made us see simply red.

They have laid claim to inventing the Pavlova which left a sour taste in our mouths and they had the cheek to claim that Phar Lap, the greatest race horse that has ever beaten their nags, was born in their dust bowl.

Now they are in a sense laying claim to one of our former politicians Hugh Templeton by awarding him with their top honour, the Order of Australia, for putting in place the Closer Economic Relationship with them.

It has only taken them 26 years which is when it was signed but then on this one they have done better than we have. The old Muldoon minister has never been recognised here for his part in the trade agreement which has been described as the world's most open and successful free market initiative.

And taking the initiative to appear in the world's biggest photo op is The State Homie John Key who has finally decided to go to Denmark to deliberate on the dirt being delivered daily into the atmosphere. The Homie had been saying for weeks there was only a five percent chance of him going to the climate change conference which is highly unlikely to change anything about the climate.

But by changing his mind he is in good company because Barack Obama is now also destined for Denmark.

The sudden influx of leaders will give the conference some weight but will do little for the climate.

Everyone who climbs on a plane to collude in Copenhagen will generate almost seven tonnes of carbon dioxide. They should all be made to pay for carbon credits which The Homie could do by accepting the five grand cheque he was offered recently by Greenpeace through Lucy Lawless.

The cheque is unlikely to be in the mail though!

Barry Soper

Political Editor

Newstalk ZB