Tuesday was supposed to be about the government switching the focus back to the core issue of the economy. Namely, its two industrial relations bills cracking down on rogue union behaviour which were the triggers for the July 2 double dissolution election.

But no. It was so slow in knocking on the head any prospect of cutting a deal with David Leyonhjelm over rapid fire shotguns in return for his vote, that it allowed itself to become monstered by claims it was prepared to water down John Howard's sacred gun laws.

On Tuesday morning, both this paper and its rival, The Australian, featured front page stories revealing Leyonhjelm's demand to lift an import ban on the weapons was part of the negotiations. In fairness, Turnbull should not have to negotiate through the media. Rule out one thing and he'll be asked about the next. But, as the visceral response to the revelations showed, gun laws are exceptions.

David Rowe's cartoon. David Rowe

(Tony Abbott had a hide chipping Turnbull on Twitter given it was Abbott as prime minister who offered Leyonhjelm a deal in which the ban would be lifted after 12 months in return for his vote on an immigration issue).

"All he had to do this morning was say 'no'," said Labor's Anthony Albanese in reference to what Turnbull should have said when first asked whether he was prepared to trade on the gun ban.