It wasn’t only Anthony Albanese taking a deep breath at Nancy Pelosi’s praise for Scott Morrison’s “leadership” on climate issues last week. The Prime Minister would have been almost as surprised – if much more pleased.

Not only did he avoid overt political pressure on his government’s record on climate change policy from the Biden administration during his visit. The public endorsement of the Democrat Speaker – praising Australia’s commitment to “meet and beat” its Paris targets – provided a helpful buffer defending the government’s technology road map as the responsible and right approach.