If Anthony Albanese wins the next election to govern either in majority or minority, he should, after a decent interval, retire so Labor can regenerate.

Albanese succeeded brilliantly, certainly beyond his wildest imaginings and that of his friends, to become leader then prime minister. He should count his blessings, then gracefully relinquish the job.

Illustration by Joe Benke

This is a benign view. The more drastic, which has been bubbling away inside the wider Labor family, is that he has lost his mojo, his judgment has deserted him and if he can’t summon the discipline to shape up, he should ship out before the election to allow someone else to take on a rampant Peter Dutton.

If Albanese loses next year, which once seemed improbable and now looks possible, obviously he is finished. There will be a bloodbath, he will shoulder much of the blame and his legacy will be trashed.

That prospect has prompted questions about whether it is too late to switch – it is – and has already led others to look past him.

A couple of weeks ago, Duncan Johnston, owner of one of Melbourne’s iconic bookshops, Hill of Content, which sponsors the prestigious Australian Political Book of the Year Award, introduced Treasurer Jim Chalmers who was presenting the prize for the third year in a row.

If Albanese loses next year... he will shoulder much of the blame and his legacy will be trashed.

Audience members chuckled or nodded approvingly as Johnston enthused that Chalmers could well be prime minister this time next year. Sensibly, Chalmers let the comment slide by.

Albanese used his considerable deal-making skills to produce,........

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