Tanya Plibersek underlined her leadership credential by buttonholing backbencher Craig Kelly in the Press Gallery corridors today, making sure journalists captured her vituperative rant.  

The ABC was exultant and ran the story that the Prime Minister had slapped down an outspoken Liberal in prime time. The other usual suspects also rejoiced, while all the time those ‘silent Australians’ that Scomo lauded last election are seething with unspoken annoyance, even rage, at the public humiliation of a man who speaks for many of their number — and if he doesn’t still has in this country the right to be heard.