In the torpor of the silly season, when sensible Australians are enjoying barbies in the great outdoors, the Albanese government is crab-walking away from another of its shibboleths; an Australian republic. As the great British rock band Queen might have put it, ‘Another one bites the dust.’

When he was elected, Mr Albanese was keen to ditch the monarchy but now a royal visit from King Charles later this year will probably provide the government with welcome respite from mounting criticism of its lacklustre agenda.