It never rains but it snows. Until this week, federal Labor had been doing an excellent impression of limping into the election year with one hand tied behind its back, but at the least all the horrible ICAC stuff was the NSW ALP's problem.
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Then on Tuesday, frontbenchers Tony Burke and Stephen Conroy were dragged into the saga, when they admitted to staying at Eddie Obeid's ski lodge at Perisher. Talk about going off-piste.
Both ministers were quick to say that it meant nothing. And that neither were buddies with the NSW powerhoncho. But as the saying goes, there were still questions to answer.
Perhaps in the hope of discouraging the media pack from following, Conroy took his morning press conference on the national broadband network over the border to Bungendore.
Burke held his conference closer to home in the Senate courtyard - a more difficult run to handle - but he had a secret weapon up his parka sleeve.
The Environment Minister was officially out to announce that legislation disallowing mining in the Koongarra area of Kakadu had been introduced to Parliament. Given his record protecting the national park, Bob Hawke was also there to lend a hand.
While Burke warned reporters they should ask questions about Kakadu before moving on to other ''policy issues'' (out of respect for the significance of the bill), the former prime minister grinned as photographers called out ''Bob! Hawkie, over this way!'' In the Q&A, Hawke helpfully expressed his confidence in the government's and Burke's decision-making prowess. Though he didn't specifically comment on whether he thought the minister's decision to holiday at The Stables was a good 'un.
''Look, I stayed at someone's place,'' Burke later plead-explained. In the afternoon, Hawke ventured into the House of Representatives for a ringside look at question time. Here, Kevin Rudd is usually the star attraction, but yesterday Hawke outshone him in the former prime ministerial stakes. Everyone wanted to come say hi and shake his hand. Even Peter Slipper.
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey was also keen to greet the former PM, albeit from the dispatch box. Rising to press Julia Gillard on matters fiscal, he first claimed Hawke as his own constituent.
Then he praised Bob as ''the last Labor prime minister to deliver a surplus''. ''Well done!'' Hockey declared, leaving the government once more, out in the cold.
