Prime ministerial rhetoric may have reached "peak grandiose" under Kevin Rudd, been oddly suburban under Julia Gillard, and bluntly combative under Tony Abbott.
But under Malcolm Turnbull, it is drifting towards the vapid.
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Turnbull soft on Trump
While other world leaders take a strong stand against Donald Trump's anti-immigration policy, our PM has tried to skirt the issue.
The Prime Minister was decidedly tardy in confirming that he'd kept his refugee deal alive despite Donald Trump's discriminatory seven-nation immigration ban.
When Turnbull did front reporters, his ostensibly positive announcement came in strangely desultory tones.
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He deflected questions on resettlement detail saying it was a matter for the US to decide who, when, and how many, would be taken off Australia's hands.
That much is understandable, given Trump's mercurial character and Turnbull's fear of imperilling a deal which (surprisingly) has survived the transition to a new administration in which the Trans Pacific-Partnership, "Obama-care", and numerous other programs have been axed.
Canberra remains confident that several hundred refugees will be transferred. Quietly.
But the "one-off" resettlement deal was not the only thing the Prime Minister believes is best left unsaid.
Asked why he had not spoken up for Australian citizens facing discriminatory treatment by the US, Turnbull insisted "it is not my job". Consular assistance would be provided in individual cases as necessary.
So much for the projection of fundamental values, universal human rights.
Turnbull parades Australia's achievement as the most successful multicultural nation in the world, but has nothing to say when our closest ally flouts such ideals and, what is more, acts directly, against Australian citizens.
Cynics might wonder if the two things are related: Trump's observance of Barack Obama's resettlement deal, which defies his antipathy towards Muslims, Arabs, Iranians, and; Australia's dull obsequiousness over US actions that offend our multicultural essence and debase certain citizens.
Compare this to the rejection of racial and religious profiling by Canada's Justin Trudeau, Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Britain's Theresa May, and many others.
Famously, Richard Nixon's chief counsel, Charles Colson, had a sign in his office: "Once you have them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow."
Presumably Trump, the arch deal-maker, believes he has the Turnbull government right where he wants it at present.
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