PM on the outs in the gallery? Fairfax’s Peter Hartcher is by far not the only senior press gallery journalist to question Abbott’s prime ministership of late, this week saying the government had lost its appetite for reform, rendering Abbott a “pointless prime minister”. But a press gallery insider suggested Hartcher’s relationship with Abbott soured in late 2013 when the Prime Minister stopped returning Hartcher’s calls. Hartcher told Crikey it would not affect his journalistic judgement, but declined to discuss his relationships or sources.

“It’s the journalistic equivalent of sources and methods for the intelligence world — sacrosanct,” The Sydney Morning Herald‘s political and international editor said.

“I will add only that I don’t make journalistic judgments of governments or oppositions based on my personal relationships.”