It's the one thing Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten can wholeheartedly agree on.
A safe and merry Christmas.
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Malcolm Turnbull's Christmas message
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calls for harmony among all Australians during his Christmas address. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
This year, the traditional Christmas messages from the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were delivered against the recent backdrops of a hijacked passenger plane, a call to renew the nuclear arms race, a deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market and the very real reminder that terrorism is never far from home shores.
Recorded and released before the news of the foiled Melbourne attack broke, the leaders were united in their wish for a "safe" holiday period, with both giving thanks to emergency service workers and Defence Force personnel, while taking a moment to remember those not as fortunate.
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But Mr Shorten, in a much more relaxed and shorter message, if more slickly edited than the missive sent out by Mr Turnbull, once again broke with tradition and mixed a political message in with his well wishes, while prominently featuring his wife Chloe in conveying Christmas cheer.
"We think of all those Australians working this holiday season to make our Christmas run smoothly – modest heroes who get up before the sun rises or work through the night," Mr Shorten said from his couch, the windows offering peeks of suburbia.
"Hard-working people, relying on penalty rates to provide for their families – something I'll always fight for," he added, echoing his words from last year.
Mrs Shorten, who joined Mr Shorten for large stretches of the election campaign, asked for those "people without a safe place to stay or battling loneliness, and women and children in refuges" to be remembered, also had the last word, wishing the nation a merry Christmas.
Mr Turnbull's message, filmed in his office next to a Christmas tree and an Australian flag, was more sombre in comparison, and made a call for unity.
"The embrace of our family, old friendships refound, the delight of children, the mystery and joy of the divine – surely this is a wondrous time of year," he said.
"Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus – and his message of unconditional love and sacrifice.
"Whether we are of any faith, or of none, it is love – forgiving, generous, never judging, unconditional, that brings us closest to the very best we can be.
"In Australia, we have much to be grateful for, not least that so many people of so many different backgrounds, races and religions live together here in a harmony founded on mutual respect."
Both Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten have ended 2016 with public trust, confidence and satisfaction in politicians and the political system at record lows, following a bitterly contested and prolonged election campaign, which saw support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party reinvigorated.
Mr Turnbull finishes the year with reports of continued dissension in his party's ranks, with Senator Cory Bernadi refusing to rule out speculation he is set to split with the Liberals.
Meanwhile, Mr Shorten was judged as less intelligent, trustworthy, decent, sensible, inspiring or honest than the Prime Minister, ranking higher in only one quality – compassion – n the latest Australian National University's Australian Electoral Study.
But in keeping with his style of tongue-in-cheek provocation, Liberal Senator James McGarth sent out his own Christmas missive, declaring Allison Pitt, whose husband Keith sits in the seat of Hinkler for the Coalition, as making "the BEST Christmas cake", recommending LNP and UK Conservatives merchandise as last minute Christmas gift ideas while "praising the Lord" the year is almost over.
"From my mob to you and your family, no matter how mad, crazy or deranged, may I wish you a merry Christmas," he said.
"And it is a merry Christmas. Quite frankly, people who insist on using PC-inspired non-Christmas greetings should be shot on the spot without the messiness of an unfair trial.
"Please don't forget to forward this email to lefty friends and family. It really annoys them."