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So, at the end of the first week of federal parliamentary sittings for 2017, what should we make of the series of encounters marked by what adrenaline-hungry pundits and Coalition MPs have welcomed as the belated unleashing of Malcolm Turnbull's "inner mongrel"?
Well, while some will share the insiders' excitement, it is fair to say many will find the Prime Minister's savaging of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten – who, with his colleagues, has long been aiming tacky barbs at Mr Turnbull for his financial success – as yet more dispiriting evidence that our politicians are more concerned with self-interest than the public interest. They want policy substance, not pugilistic form.
It's little wonder politicians have such a diminished standing. It is a shame, because lawmaking should be seen as a noble pursuit.
There is, of course, a role for passion and strong language in politics – when it's primarily about public policy. Politics is not a blood sport; it's about the battle of ideas and measures to improve opportunities for the community, not facilitating the ego-driven and publicly funded ambitions of politicians.
While Mr Shorten was continuing his attack on the Prime Minister's self-made fortune and Mr Turnbull was excoriating the Opposition Leader as a "sycophant", "hypocrite" and "parasite", events of national import were unduly overshadowed. Or opportunistically twisted – the South Australia power blackouts, nothing to do with Mr Shorten's team, were brazenly used by Mr Turnbull and his invigorated colleagues against their federal opponents. It looked desperate, and lacked intellectual rigour and credibility.
We would urge Australia's lawmakers to settle down, grow up a bit and place at the centre of the political arena some of the following issues, which are actually within their remit.
The Coalition's omnibus bill that ties dubious welfare cuts to childcare reform has caused widespread concern and is worthy of spirited public debate. In our view, the government has not yet properly established the case for reducing payments to jobseekers aged 25 and younger; abolishing the energy supplement, worth up to $14 a fortnight, for new welfare recipients; and stopping pension payments to Australians who travel overseas for more than six weeks.
Also requiring more airing is the government's desire to change the Migration Act to allow Immigration Minister Dutton what appears to us to be excessive and unnecessary powers to force categories of visa-holders to pass a revalidation check, based on their nationality, place of residence or travel history.
It would be publicly welcome, too, were the Coalition to update us all on what is happening with two key elements of our relationship with the US: the deal to resettle refugees in the US from Australia's mandatory offshore detention centres; and our trade outlook in light of signs the US is reconsidering its bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements.
With our population continuing to grow rapidly, it would be welcome to hear the government's response to the Reserve Bank of Australia's renewed calls to take advantage of historically low interest rates to fund crucial investment in infrastructure – a move we have long advocated.
So, less of the shrillness and froth citizens have witnessed this week. While it might be thrilling entertainment, most people would prefer politicians to focus on improving the lot of those who pay their salaries.
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