Prime Minister Tony Abbott's National Press Club speech was a direct pitch to his political colleagues designed to revive his own political fortunes and buy his troubled government some time.
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Abbott made clear he would stand and fight - for the Liberal Party, for his government and for his own leadership – rather than meekly step aside.
But in looking to his own future, Abbott reached back to the past in a speech heavy with familiar slogans, even as he confessed to political mistakes and promised to do better.
What Abbott's MPs will have been looking for were clear signs of a contrite Prime Minister with a clear plan – and the political courage – to set a new course for his government.
Abbott gave some of the necessary signals as he ditched the friendless paid parental leave policy and showed contrition for controversial "captain's calls" on that scheme and the knighthood for Prince Philip.
But after clinging to the PPL for so long, many MPs believe that decision was more about saving his prime ministership than setting a new and better policy direction.
The speech may not be enough to save Abbott's leadership but in reality it is nigh on impossible for any political leader to "reset" and save themselves in a single speech.
Liberal MPs, already furious and fearing the federal government is headed for a Queensland-style electoral wipe-out, will still be pondering how much has changed after a speech that was rarely inspiring.
Time and again, Abbott has hammered key messages from the years before the 2013 election, including the need to reduce debt and deficit, the Coalition's now-successful pledge to stop the boats and the axing of the carbon tax.
Abbott stressed that we are "all on a journey to build a better Australia".
At times, he appeared to get bogged down as he admitted the government needed to explain its narrative better.
More needed to be said about his vision for the future.
But towards the end of the address, the Prime Minister's performance improved as he stressed his commitment to fairness and to do more for families.
Abbott appealed to the national interest and called for "a more honest national conversation between all of us with Australia's best interests at heart".
On the government's agenda for the future, Abbott called for national conversations about a better childcare policy, reform of the tax system and the federation – though he promised no change to the GST without consensus from the states and the Labor opposition – and possible further legislation to combat "extremism in our suburbs".
He also warned colleagues that "the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years cannot become the new normal lest Australia join the weak government club".
"It's the people that hire and, frankly, it's the people who should fire," he said.
"Leadership is about making the right decisions for our country's future. It isn't a popularity contest."
In attempting to underscore that he had heard the concerns of the backbench, Abbott promised the "most collegial government this country has ever seen in the weeks and months and years ahead".
Some of his colleagues will be asking why it took so long.
