First, most immediate, is Covid. Last year, government and officials worked frantically and effectively to protect the country and stop the spread and should, rightly, be given credit for that. Then the virus evolved but government didn't. Since this most recent outbreak Scott Morrison has offered little more than emphatic, strong-sounding yet directionless waffle. There has certainly been no corresponding action to coordinate the response, implement unified plans, or even simply inspire the nation. His speech is instead embedded in lethargy and complacency, only firing up when a questioner dares to suggest the self-evident truth: things could have been managed bettter.

This PM doesn't hold a hose. He spits out the word mate with derision and contempt. And that's why a government run by Scott Morrison has proven itself incapable of either obtaining enough vaccines, organising their distribution, or implementing effective quarantine procedures and cauterising any outbreak. He's been unable to get his government to work.

Strike one.

Extend your view and the chaos of Kabul swings into focus. No body can blame possibly this government for the accretion of two decades of failure; it can, however, condemn it for being caught unaware and flat-footed in its response to the collapse. No plan to rescue Australians; refusing to discuss a plan for distressed Afghan asylum seekers who are here now; abandoning interpreters and guards who worked with our forces. It stinks, but Morrison can't see the problem. He's unable to even see a problem exists.

Strike two.

Finally, critically, climate change. No plan - not even accepting a disaster looms ahead. There's less than a decade to stop our world from becoming unlivable. Today, however, we have a prime minister who points the finger at China (which contributes, per person, fewer emissions than Australia); maintains Australia is doing enough despite evidence our targets will not be met; and promises a miracle will occur as the wonders of technology somehow, suddenly, yet comprehensively dissolve a problem that's been building for decades. No thought of curbing emissions and no plan to cope with the changing climate of fire and fear in the hottest year since records began.

Three strikes.

Instead of walking, however, Morrison is using his words. He redefines questions and brushes away fact. Press conferences in his parliamentary courtyard are exercises in the construction of an alternate reality. We are simply hitchhikers in this world that appears - at first glance - quite similar to the one we inhabit yet becomes completely unrecognisable when it comes to working out who's responsible for getting things done, and this is the key to Morrison's success.

The PM has mastered grasping a question and attributing deceitful motives to quite reasonable queries. He uses this to deliberately misinterpret queries which allows him to re-frames ideas and re-embark on his preferred narrative, which is that he is doing everything he can.

It's becoming quite evident, however, that this is, unfortunately, not enough.