Christmas hasn’t come early for the DLP. Or not all their Christmases have come at once, anyway. It appears that thanks to a bungle by Victorian electoral authorities, they’ve only won one seat in the state’s Legislative Council.

Melbourne University Press is publishing Bob Santamaria’s Selected Letters next month. Crikey understands that they show Santamaria welcomed Evatt’s paranoia and the Split because it ensured that everyone belonged to a clearly defined camp. Things aren’t that clear now.

Crikey understands that the DLP and the National Civic Council are two very separate entities nowadays.

Crikey also understands that they supported Family First at last month’s Victorian state election and even had staff members run as candidates.

All of which makes the media release yesterday from Steve Fielding congratulating the DLP look like some very rapid bridge building.

Meanwhile, Crikey readers have plenty to say about the DLP’s resurrection:

“Has Gerard Henderson contacted Crikey yet to say that the DLP that has won isn’t the real DLP? If not, he will.”

“An interesting question: how many people who voted DLP in Victoria did so as a joke?”

“Will Bracksy do a Rann and include the Nats or the DLP in cabinet? Reunification?”

Kevin Andrews and Connie Fierravanti-Wells are tipped as possible future federal members of the DLP – but one Crikey reader believes the Split could finally be repaired:

“Surely St Kevin the Ruddite is the man to finally heal the breach between the ALP and its Catholic offshoot. With all the new forks in the road surely he can overlook an ancient knife in the back.”