In August, after yet another turn of Canberra’s revolving door, I argued in these pages that in order to have influence in the world, it is useful to present as a serious country with a functioning political system. I wrote that the world was laughing at us. The comedy show has since moved on to other venues. But now, the world might be reaching an even worse conclusion: that it can ignore us.

We have just come through summit season. The pace of regional diplomacy has picked up. Recently Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The very next day Abe hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his home near Tokyo. The big three of Asia were meeting, sizing each other up, playing the game.

While others are making the running, however, Australia has lost a step. How could it be otherwise when our new prime minister will spend most of the time between now and next year’s election introducing himself to his counterparts?

Scott Morrison has been criticised for his "happy talk" while abroad, and for saying that Australia won’t have to choose between China and America. But you can sympathise with his predicament. He is in a diabolical political situation, lacking a parliamentary majority, with an election around the corner. How can he give due attention to foreign affairs?