That person also tends to be seen as having good people or management skills thereby marking them out for promotions, good will and possibly a biscuit rather than developing a reputation as a bully people cannot wait to see the back of. Abbott and Turnbull: Much the same governments? Credit:Jesse Marlow It matters not that the task is the same, it's all in the delivery and the message. So it is in politics where a generally upbeat persona, a wry smile and a memorable turn of phrase will allow you to do what someone with an aggressive manner and unfortunate choice of words will be marked down for. Observe, if you will, the change in tone towards Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has been sweet-talking the electorate for a good three months now and reaping the benefits in the opinion polls.

Not for him the headlines professing his failure at leadership when a byelection turns in a less than pleasing result (perfectly reasonable for people to turn away from the governing party because of something happening at a totally different level of government) or his inability to stop people leaking against him (let's just let people get stuff off their chests and then move on). Is Malcolm Turnbull still enjoying honeymoon treatment? Credit:Andrew Meares Not for Mr Turnbull the plethora of comment pieces discussing why he does not like women even though he has shown not the slightest flicker of interest in talking about two unpopular government policies (winding back paid parental leave and cutting family tax benefits) or another that is yet to seep into people's consciousness (changes to childcare that will see children from low income families almost certainly miss out). Mr Turnbull can even preside over a government that seems not to care that it taking months to appoint a new sex discrimination commissioner. That is largesse that would not have been extended to Mr Abbott.

If there is one thing the Australian people can be grateful for this Christmas it is that the conversation entitled "Tony Abbott's problem with women" is now over. We can leave all that behind because the person running the country is no longer talking about housewives and how getting rid of a tax will make the cost of ironing lower, so everything is OK. Labor is running hard on the theme that very little has changed since Mr Turnbull moved into the Prime Minister's Office. Do not be distracted by the shiny baubles of talk about innovation and pretty lights flashing "excitement", it says, pay attention to what Mr Turnbull is actually doing. Put the silver tinsel aside and you will see the Prime Minister is merely a Turnbull in Abbott's clothing. Go back to the policy and you will see that it is very much the same (even down to the all-male line up when it comes to government salesmen on family tax and childcare policy).

The Senate also remains the same, which is opposed to the changes on paid parental leave and most of the reductions in family tax benefits and it would seem to also feel less than well disposed towards the childcare changes. Meanwhile the gender pay gap and the discrepancy between men's and women's retirement incomes continue to entrench the economic disadvantage faced by one half of the nation's inhabitants and the Family Court continues to be inadequately resources. Just as well the messenger comes in a sharp suit and with a winning turn of phrase. Follow us on Twitter