When acting as part of a constructive, two-person team with the Prime Minister, the office-holder can make for a formidable combination – think here Keating and Hawke, Costello and Howard.

Treasurers come in three varieties: good, bad, and accidental. The good and bad are self-explanatory, but the accidental moneyman is the one put into the position with nary a clue but holding down the exalted role for accidental reasons.