“He’s his own man now, not beholden to anyone or any faction.”

The words, spoken mournfully, came from a rusted-on Canberra Labor man, still dazed by the ‘unlosable’ election.

And it’s true. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison took on the combined forces of a well-resourced and funded Labor team (when Bill Shorten spoke of ‘financial behemoths’ he should have also included the CFMEU and Get UP) in what seemed like an impossible task.