No wonder Jim Chalmers was anxious to use every opportunity on Sunday to weigh in on the Liberals’ “bloodbath” in Farrer.

It was extremely good news for a treasurer who is having to explain a budget in which key election promises on taxes will be broken.

The Liberals’ utter disaster provides an ideal “look at them” opportunity for the government to capitalise on.

When Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson appeared on the ABC for a pre-budget interview on Sunday, he was inevitably peppered with questions about One Nation.

Were the Liberals right or wrong to preference One Nation in over independent Michelle Milthorpe? “Well it was a call that was made and it’s obviously one that you know has delivered a result”, Wilson said, although he went on to argue that another course wouldn’t have made any difference – many people did their own thing with their preferences.

The truth is the horse bolted some time ago in the internal Liberal argument about whether they should or should not preference One Nation. They will........

© The Conversation