PM Tony Abbott complains that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is humming 'Rule Britannia' at him during Question Time.

TONY Abbott is having his worst week since he became Prime Minister because he is straying from the sacred “core issues” of his party.

The Prime Minister’s rash plan to change the Racial Discrimination Act and his revival of knighthoods were not treasured policies of the Liberal Party waiting for implementation.

They were personal indulgences Mr Abbott shared with a bunch of blokes he occasionally had a beer with.

And because he initiated ventures which hadn’t been inspected or sanctioned by the broad Liberal Party — or even with his own MPs, in the case of the knighthoods — he quickly was in political trouble.

He has become the subject of open ridicule from coast to coast, even from fellow Liberals.

Outgoing GG, Quentin Bryce has just released a comment on today's Damehood announcement #Dame #Auspol pic.twitter.com/gd49p9TDyk — Chris Chamberlin (@popculturechris) March 25, 2014

It is particularly painful for a man who has enjoyed the role as the most successful Liberal leader since John Howard.

Mr Abbott is tough enough to withstand being called a bully, or even cruel. But he doesn’t like being ridiculed.

If anyone doubts this, they just need to refer to Question Time yesterday when the Prime Minister rose to complain that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was humming Rule Britannia at him.

It was a display of excessive sensitivity — to a low-grade taunt — unworthy of a Prime Minister.

Certainly of one who this week argued people shouldn’t think they need to be protected from being offended.

That incident was the result of jibes by Mr Shorten over the return of knights and dames.

Much more serious for Mr Abbott will be the fate of his changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. His original intentions have been watered down. But that is still unacceptable to his top adviser on Indigenous affairs, the Jewish community and to some of his backbench MPs.

If the Prime Minister wants to get changes of some sort through he will have to deal with Government MPs considering crossing the floor on the issue.

The same goes to changes in rules covering financial advisers and obligations to clients.

Meanwhile, the Labor Opposition can’t believe its luck.

Nobody could claim Mr Shorten has the Government by the throat. Mr Abbott’s problems are self inflicted but the Opposition is delighted to take advantage.