Here is a statistic that tells you what a self-defeating funk the federal opposition is in. On Monday alone, as it wallowed in the crisis over energy policy, its parliamentarians indulged in more than 35 media appearances.

Opposition members  can’t resist talking about themselves, fighting their battles in the glare of the spotlight. In particular, Sky News is an irresistible honey pot.

All this is good for the media, but not for messaging. It amplifies the shambles.

Of course the Nationals, having dumped net zero on Sunday, don’t themselves feel in chaos. They’ve just been the prime cause of the chaos for the Liberals and the Coalition generally.

Here’s where the current state of things appears to stand within the Liberals.

The majority of the parliamentary party has shifted in favour of ditching net zero. Core conservatives wanted this all along. For less ideological Liberals  who’d like to keep net zero as an........

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