If we're to believe the latest party backroom rumours, the Liberals are considering replacing embattled Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull with Andrew Robb before the next election.
The theory seems to be that Robb would probably lose by a lesser margin than Turnbull, avoiding an election wipe-out for the Libs. But why take such a slump-shouldered defeatist stance? Is the party really down to choosing the last blue-ribbon wombat waddling through the paddock?
And really, do candidates for the Opposition leadership have to be selected from a political old boys club? If the Libs want to give Rudd a hard run – and a timely scare - at the next election, then they should send for the doctor. Doctor who? Why, Dr Sharman Stone, of course.
Consider the advantages of appointing an Opposition leader who might be seen by the electorate as representing real change. For the first time, at federal level, a major political party in Australia would be led by a woman – and a woman with an impressive academic and political CV at that.
The chance to vote to put a woman in charge of the country – and a woman who has championed reconciliation too - would certainly have some resonance and momentum at the ballot box, right across the continent.
Imagine, the sounds of Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin blaring out in countless homes across Australia on election night, as we gals pop the champagne and shimmy across the patio, singing – "The inferior sex has got a new exterior/We got doctors, lawyers, politicians too…..yeah sisters are doing it for themselves."
If Stone walked onto the podium as party leader that night – even as an election loser – I'd bet the mood in whatever hotel ballroom was hosting the Libs election night bash would be far more upbeat than a loss following a campaign led by Robb, Abbott et al.
Such is the desire for real political change and gender equity out there in Voterland that if Stone lost, it'd probably be by a nano-sliver of a cat's whisker not by a margin the size of the Mississippi in flood.
The Ruddites would also be forced to drop their blokey attack tactics when addressing a woman as Opposition leader in the house. All that jockstrap locker room banter and silly soundbite name-calling would fall flat when levelled at a dignified, self-assured woman who has an honours degree in anthropology.
She could tell Swannie, Julia and Mark Arbib a few home truths about tribal behaviour. Perhaps we might even see the resurgence of genuine political debate.
As market researchers know, sometimes a fresh take is needed to flog a product. Robb, Hockey, Turnbull and Abbott are tired old faces, with little to differentiate them from the bland blokes in suits across the chamber. Time to scout for new talent that sets a bold new trend.
And if you were responsible for, as they say in the publishing trade, "selling in" a new Liberal leader, how can you pique much interest in one of these broken-record blokes? We know their stories by now, and they're not page-turners.
So how about changing the script? What about a woman whose family are sixth generation Murray Darling Basin farmers (hmm, lots of photogenic back story there), with a doctorate in economics and business management from the University of Melbourne (book the National Press club, now!) and has co-written a number of books (quick, ring Jennifer Byrne and see if we can get her on the First Tuesday Book Club).
Stone is a good public speaker and gave a cracker of a first speech to parliament on the economic and social challenges facing rural Australia. She would easily outshine our repetitive, down-talkin', sauce bottle shakin' Prime Minister on the speaker's podium.
Stone was an astute operator as opposition environment spokeswoman and her shrewd policy analysis had Peter Garrett reeling on the ropes on several occasions.
Along with Greens environment spokeswoman Senator Rachel Siewert, she pounced on several serious flaws in the Rudd Government's new environmental grants scheme, Caring for Our Country that has resulted in the loss of thousands of regional jobs for young people.
Coming from a farming family, Stone also understands the complex issues surrounding water reform and food production. When Climate Change minister Penny Wong announced a $50 million scheme to buyback water licences, Stone went on the attack by arguing the Rudd government didn't understand water pricing or licencing.
The buyback meant drought-affected irrigators, already being "hounded by their lenders", would be "under even greater pressure to sell off their water, destroying their chance to ever recover from drought," and leaving less viable farms.
It also meant market distortion. Stone argued that Wong had not "taken into consideration the fact that any government entering the open market for water will push prices sky high, leaving drought stressed irrigators even less able to compete to buy water to keep their farms going." Sensible stuff and bang on the button.
So before the Libs opt for another bloke in a pin-striped suit to lead the party, they might pause to consider the message they could send the electorate by reviving an old feminist slogan. Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman. But please, not Julie Bishop!