Will Scott Morrison’s luck run out before next election?

SCott Morrison is a manager, not a reformer. Picture: Gary Ramage

As the holidays stretch into yet another magical Australian summer, most of us have little to think about besides how to have a good time.

While the Prime Minister is spending some well-earned time with his wife, Jen, and their two daughters, you can bet that somewhere in the back of his mind looms one word: “When?”

As in: When will I pull the trigger and call an election?

The polls give Morrison the lead but not by a huge margin. This Prime Minister is a manager, not a reformer — and therein lies his strength and Labor’s weakness.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has formed a formidable partnership with the Prime Minister and the economy is performing in the way they want it to. Picture: Gary Ramage

It’s hard to make a mistake if you don’t do much. The great post-Menzies reformers — Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard and Peter Costello — will never be overtaken by this bloke. Morrison will keep the mob happy.

That makes him very hard to beat. Labor’s permanent dilemma is that it is a reformist party in a country that doesn’t see the need for much reform.

Labor’s shadow Treasurer is the perfect foil for the Labor leader. Anthony Albanese is a warrior, while Jim Chalmers is the safe pair of hands. At any other time such a team would look like natural winners, but Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have. What could go wrong?

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is a warrior. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Firstly, a government minister could always become embroiled in scandal.

So far this has looked unlikely. Attorney-General Christian Porter has been revealed as a bit of a lad when he was at university.

Secondly, unlike Tony Abbott, Morrison does not have to deal with the appalling tactics of an ambitious Malcolm Turnbull. No one is undermining him and his team is united. Leaking is rare and generally insignificant.

That means the government can continually be on the front foot and attack. So little has gone wrong since Morrison’s election. The Opposition has had trouble finding sufficient ammunition to mount concerted attacks.

The question is: will Morrison’s luck run out? The usual answer for most politicians is “yes”, but there lurks in the back of my mind a doubt about that happening any time soon.

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Picture: Gary Ramage