To be clear, the proposed adjustment to the stage-three tax cuts is a big improvement on the ideological trap set by Scott Morrison (who?) in 2019.

And the outraged screams of “broken promise” by the Coalition and the usual media suspects are confected – a better policy beats a dud promise every time if the game is about the nation’s welfare.

And the big four business lobby groups made fools of themselves by claiming anything less than sticking with the original design would damage the economy. Zero cred.

But the manner of finally coming to the changes, the last-minute timing before an important byelection, the missing of earlier, better opportunities to openly examine, debate and explain the weakness of the original Morrison package – all that smacks of a government stumbling, making a hard job of something that should have been easier.

The bumbling leaves the distinct impression it has taken poor internal polling for the Dunkley byelection on March 2 to drag Albanese to finally put policy before that wedged promise.

After botching the Indigenous Voice, apparently deaf and blind to its inevitable failure, the manner of these changes damage confidence in Mr Albanese’s political ability. His next big domestic test after referendum poorly executed.

The moral high ground for improving stage three was largely lost, replaced by the hint of political necessity.

And yet to come is the horse trading the Greens will try in the Senate to pass the necessary legislation. The Greens won’t let the new legislation........

© The New Daily