RISING UNEMPLOYMENT Mr Abbott came to power promising his government would create a million jobs over five years. He was at it again on August 6, trying to deflect attention from "choppergate" by declaring that "everything this government does is about jobs". Hours later, the Bureau of Statistics burst his rhetorical bubble. New data revealed unemployment in June worsened to 6.3 per cent, the highest in 13 years - despite the creation of 38,500 jobs in July. Pushed for higher education reforms: Christopher Pyne. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen PAYING-OFF PEOPLE SMUGGLERS If you can't beat them, pay them. Mr Abbott took "on-water matters" to a new level by dodging questions in June over whether Australian officials paid thousands of dollars to people smugglers. The government was accused of bribing people smugglers after reports it paid them bundles of cash to send 65 asylum seekers back to Indonesia. Mr Abbott said his government was "prepared to do what is necessary to keep the boats stopped" - no matter the cost, presumably. BACKFLIPS The government has shown a flexibility with policy that would put Matthew Mitcham to shame. Among the high-dive backflips: lifting the pay offer to defence personnel; backing down on plans to abolish $500 million in car industry assistance; and caving in to demands that journalists' sources be better protected under metadata laws. Education Minister Christopher "The Fixer" Pyne gave a gold medal performance over the government's backdown on higher education reforms. HOT WIND Noted aesthete Mr Abbott joined Treasurer Joe Hockey in describing wind farms as "visually awful", ugly and noisy. Mr Abbott went a step further in June by announcing he will appoint a "wind farm commissioner" to handle unfounded complaints about turbine noise and alleged health impacts. His broader attacks on the renewable energy sector put him at odds with most voters and much of the world, though not with the right wing of his own party.

GAFFES AND ATTACKS Did they really say that? Mr Abbott, the self-declared Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs, backed a plan to close remote communities, saying "what we can't do is endlessly subsidise lifestyle choices". Meanwhile, Treasurer Joe Hockey showed his common touch by insisting that Sydney property prices were "affordable" and advising first-home buyers "to get a good job that pays good money". The government's self-inflicted wounds were worsened by its unpopular attacks on the ABC and on Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs. "Get a good job that pays good money": Joe Hockey's views on housing affordability left more than a few outraged. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen GOOD GOVERNMENT BIG-SPENDING BUDGET The government enjoyed a rare moment in the sun after delivering its voter-friendly second budget. The Coalition surged in the polls on the back of popular measures, such as small business tax concessions and increased childcare assistance. Treasurer Joe Hockey's "have-a-go" budget erased the harsh excesses of 2014, by dispensing with planned pension cuts and a six-month waiting period for the dole for under 30s. FREE TRADE DEALS Tony Abbott hailed it as "history making" and he could afford to crow. The government's free trade deal with China was signed in June amid government promises that it would be worth billions to the Australian economy and boost jobs. Mr Abbot promised that under the deal, which followed a decade of negotiations, Australians will pay less for cars, clothes and electronics. The deal came on top of pacts with Japan and South Korea, giving the government a rare trifecta of good news.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott meets Chinese Premier Xi amid Free Trade Agreement negotiations. BIG SHIPS Mr Abbott donned his hard hat to announce plans to build $40 billion worth of new surface ships for the navy in South Australia. He promised that 2500 shipbuilding jobs in Adelaide would be safe "for all time" under the big funding promise in August. An additional $49 billion was promised to fund a submarine fleet, which could still be built offshore. Mr Abbott billed the funding as good news for national security and jobs. It should also help restore his political fortunes in South Australia, after the government bungled an earlier announcement to find an international company to build the next fleet of submarines. PENSION REFORMS The government crossed the political divide in June by doing a deal with the Greens. The rival parties struck a deal to change the pensions asset test, delivering $2.4 billion in savings over four years. The deal was a major win for the government and left Labor out in the cold.