For the first time in world history developing countries got a seat at the global decision making table, and so did Australia, the world's 12th largest economy.

Nations, sitting in the audience at Davos, both developed and developing, that were smashed by the US subprime crisis, who deployed fiscal stimulus to avoid economic Armageddon, will be scratching their heads today wondering what the Prime Minister has in store for them when they get to Brisbane in November this year.

Lifting global growth is imperative. It requires concerted global action against rampant tax evasion by multinational companies, through both base erosion and profit shifting, new financial models and governance for infrastructure, and, of course, breaking the world trade deadlock.

Some of these reforms were mentioned by Mr Abbott but obscured by his domestic political pitch.

You'd have to go a long way to find someone that wants the G20 to succeed in Brisbane this year more than I do. I urge Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey to stop playing grubby domestic politics with the leadership of the G20 in which Australia has a lot at stake.