Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus rubbished our prediction on Monday that he would soon quit federal parliament for an appointment to Victoria’s judiciary. “Despite reheating of baseless rumours this morning, as I said in August I’ll be staying and fighting the next election.” So what? He’d previously given the suggestion short shrift when asked in August by The Age’s Rob Harris. “I don’t know where these ridiculous suggestions come from.” The indignance!

Funnily enough, they probably come from the high-level discussions being held on Spring Street by everyone from Premier Daniel Andrews, former Attorney-General Martin Pakula, his successor Jill Hennessy and his caucus colleagues. Or from his threats to quit parliament in October 2018, or his indiscreet utterances around the traps.