In the dying days of any government, an image becomes emblematic of what went wrong.

We saw it last in Queensland, when Campbell Newman became too big for his britches and his government's decision-making fell captive to arrogance and hubris.

Bronwyn Bishop. Credit:Steven Siewert

We saw it in the state government before then too; when former premier Anna Bligh and her government became so disconnected to the people it served that it could not see that an electoral lie would cost it power.

It's happening again, now, with Tony Abbott in Canberra, thanks to uppity Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and her penchant for power and prestige.