It’s been 18 months since this column figured Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones was a markedly weak performer. Recent events have done little to change our minds.

In February last year, he was the recipient of Michelle Levy’s extensive recommendations on reforming the provision of financial advice, most of which the government accepted. To ease the substantial legislative package along, Jones split his wishlist. The first bill on the matter was meant to lock in “quick wins”, exposed for a mere three weeks of consultation (Jones flagged it wouldn’t do much more than “declutter” the regulatory landscape).