It was as if the prisoner, awaiting the hangman's noose, had been led out to utter his final words. Despite the occasion, despite his funereal subject – multinational tax avoidance – he was sanguine and he spoke freely, as a man in his final hours mindful of his legacy.

At the eve of his political execution, Joe Hockey has unveiled legislation to tackle the scourge of multinational profit shifting. Only an 11th hour reprieve from the latest prime minister of the country can save the treasurer now. The scaffolders are on site, the hood and the rope are on their way and the chaplain is booked for the weekend to administer the last rites.

It is then, via a cabinet reshuffle, that Joe's fate is to be decided. Rumour has it that he is to be slain as treasurer and his remains deported from the gallows to the Communications portfolio where he will spend a wretched eternity fielding ultimatums on media policy from News Corporation.

So it was that he spoke his mind. There was "not universal agreement", at the latest G20 gabfest, Joe Hockey told the throng of reporters at his press conference in Canberra, citing "a very large country". He was rather boldly alluding to the US and the fact that it is not in the interests of America for its companies to pay more tax in Australia.