Every parent knows the problem. An errant child who is always telling lies, whether it’s ‘I didn’t take them’, ‘I don’t know what happened’ or the old faithful, ‘I didn’t do it’. Invariably a half-smirk is plastered across their face, betraying a habitual, almost comical deceit.

In watching Bill Shorten’s company tax somersault last week, it occurred to me he’s the great fibbing man-child of Australian politics.