Bob Hawke had Paul Keating and John Howard had Peter Costello. Both PMs held off their younger rivals by deploying the oldest trick in the book: performance.

A tired Hawke faced removal only after he'd won four elections straight. Howard was axed by the voters.

Josh Frydenberg with John Howard in 2004. Credit:Courtesy of Josh Frydenberg

No prime minister since has commanded such performance-inspired loyalty. Not one.

Kevin Rudd fell to Julia Gillard in his first term and she then fell to him on the rebound. Rudd lost the 2013 election to Tony Abbott, who fell in the party room to Malcolm Turnbull before he could seek re-election.