On the eve of the Voice referendum a year ago on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood on the high ground of a cause Labor believed in. That hope went unfulfilled, and Labor seems to have no big vision to take its place.

This week, the best policy ideas the government could come up with were a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power and a bill to safeguard NBN Co from privatisation. The issues are hollow. Though the government will be hoping to expose the lack of detail in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear plans, few think they are anywhere near practical form. And much as the government would like to see the opposition vote against a bill to keep the NBN in public hands, it’s not up for sale, or likely to be.