We have got so used to politics being personalised around the leaders of the major parties that is hard to imagine what an election would be like if they were not the centre of attention. Yet that surely is the prospect for the next federal poll when the respective party tacticians try to cope with the unpopularity of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.

Now at lot of things can change in two political years but on the current indications Australia has never had such an unpopular pair vying for the nation’s top office. Building a campaign around either one if things do stay the same is hardly going to be a vote winner.

How to handle a problem like that forbid that we actually see policies becoming the determining factor. But I suppose that won’t happen either as along with their record unpopularity Australia has never had such a pair of blatant liars making the promises.