Just when they thought their week couldn't get worse, the government falls victim to a Bill Shorten zinger.

As part of a long line of public remarks and policies which reveal a dangerous ignorance of the struggles of most Australians who don’t resemble the Monopoly Man, Joe Hockey’s idea that young people should just get “a good job” has been widely criticised this week. A number of industry experts have spoken out against him, citing a number of very real reasons why his suggestion isn’t that helpful; the media have wryly drawn attention to his own several multi-million dollar properties; and each time the PM’s tried to back him up it’s made things worse.

First Tone denied that Hockey made a gaffe at all. Then he conceded he’s struggled to pay his Sydney mortgage on a cabinet minister’s salary of $336,599. Now he’s decided everything’s probably fine because his daughter doesn’t live on the street.

Importantly, he’s not referring to Frances — the one who received a dodgy $60,000 scholarship — but Louise, the one who has a high-level job in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and also resides in the IRL ghost town of Canberra.

It’s amidst all this that the unthinkable has happened: the Labor Party has made a joke at the government’s expense and people are actually laughing. A step above the limp zingers and dank memes we’ve become accustomed to in recent times, the Opposition has launched a whole website dedicated to spamming the Treasurer. With an easy-to-use form sent directly to him — much like the one used by anti-tampon tax campaigners last week — they’re encouraging young people to apply for “a good job that pays good money” in Joe Hockey’s office.

Though it launched yesterday afternoon, it’s already been shared by more than 7,000 people.

“I’m writing to apply for a position in your office,” the pre-written letter reads. “I’m interested in owning my own home, and I figured if being a teacher or a nurse won’t get me there, getting a job with you would be a good start … I believe I am suitably qualified for your office as my understanding of economics is basic at best.”

Has the dismal state of Australia politics left us all so delirious that we’ve lost the concept of humour completely, or was that actually a decent burn? At this point, it’s nearly impossible to tell.

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Feature image via Joe Hockey/Liberal.