Abbott, Andrews and Abetz resembling Larry, Curly and Moe

THREE political moves attributed to Tony Abbott and two of his colleagues have isolated all three and failed to damage the government.

They now are known as the Triple-A Gang — Tony Abbott, Kevin Andrews and Eric Abetz.

But after their Monash Forum fiasco they look more like Larry, Curly and Moe.

The political slapstick of just a week’s work included: Filching the name of a great Australian for political purposes, to the anger of the man’s family; overturning a generation of privatisation with proposals for government to invest billions in electricity generation;

offering a “clean coal” policy which exasperated colleagues had to again point out would double the price of electricity to households.

These political pratfalls have further isolated the Triple-A gang within the Government.

But that doesn’t mean their efforts, flawed and sneaky (reportedly they tried to dupe MPs into the Monash Forum membership list) haven’t been damaging to the Government.

They have criticised the National Energy Guarantee, which has been approved by cabinet and backbench party room meetings.

One aim of the NEG is to provide certainty needed by the electricity industry for investment planning. Criticism by a former Liberal Prime Minister and two former Liberal ministers fractures that certainty.

The broader issue is that of the Prime Minister’s authority. Triple-A can’t roll Malcolm Turnbull, but their actions make him look impotent at a time when voters want strength.

And worse than being seen as white-ants of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, they are stark examples of politicians talking about each other rather than voters.

“I’m like most Australians, I’m sick of the soap opera of the Turnbull Government,” said Labor Leader Bill Shorten, who has had walk-on roles in a few leadership soap operas himself.

“I just wish they would get on with their day job, not spend all their time fighting each other.”

It was an accurate summation of a broadly held view in the electorate. And clearly there is apprehension within the Government that the damage will continue on Monday when Mr Turnbull faces his 30th Newspoll loss.

It will be an occasion for fabricated drama based on Mr Turnbull’s own throwaway line aimed at Mr Abbott two and a half years ago, but not without embarrassment for the PM.

That no doubt is why senior Liberals are stressing unity in remarks intended to be heeded by Larry, Curly and Moe.

“Well from my perspective mate, I don’t serve in the Cabinet if I can’t be loyal and I think that as a team we can defeat Shorten,” Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said on 2GB on Thursday.

“I think there is a huge hesitation and a proper hesitation within the public’s mind about who Shorten is, what he represents.”

And former Prime Minister John Howard told ABC’s 7.30 that evening: “My exultation to all Liberals is to just remember that you are carrying the hopes and aspirations of millions of supporters around the country and they want you to work together.

“They want you to bury differences. They want you to make certain that we speak as much as possible with one voice and, sure, Malcolm Turnbull has got to give the lead — that can’t be disputed — but he is not the only person who has got a responsibility. Every man and woman

in the parliamentary party has one as well.”

That emphasis on loyalty was specifically for Triple-A.