It would not be surprising were Liberal members of Federal Parliament feeling nervous, even skittish. Only days ago, they were considered all but certain to win the coming election. Tony Abbott now looks an even bet to emulate his former boss John Hewson (Abbott was Hewson's media adviser), who in 1993 lost what was widely considered an unloseable ballot against Paul Keating.

The game-changer, of course, has been the painful and pragmatic decision by the ALP caucus to return Kevin Rudd to the prime ministership. In so doing, they followed advice Keating was given long ago by former NSW premier Jack Lang: in politics you should always back the horse named self-interest.

The Liberals would be wise to at least consider replacing Tony Abbott.

In their own self-interest, the Liberals would be wise to at least consider replacing Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull. It has long been clear the two leaders Australian voters would like to choose between are Rudd and Turnbull.

The greatest impediment to Rudd's return was that so many of his colleagues dislike him. But they knew that their best chance of holding power was to make the change. Similarly, the greatest impediment to Turnbull's return is that many of his colleagues do not like him. He has, it is said, given too many of them free character assessments.