Her compromise with the mining industry, will on the whole, send her approval rating higher despite the argument that she has done nothing more than roll over for an industry that is the most wealthy and the most powerful in Australia.

But it has done nothing to alleviate the fear that all she, and Labor, is doing is chasing percentages at the polls.

So far where’s the real leadership?

It won’t come from a double-flip on the ETS. It won’t come from a review of the deplorable and gross waste of money on the Building the Education Revolution Scheme. These are just bandaid solutions in which the real priority is the latest approval ratings

It will come, however, from the political minefield which is illegal boat people and asylum seekers.

For the past decade both sides of politics have used the issue to score points, and to assure victory at elections.

But for the good of the country, for the good of our international reputation, for the good of the thousands of people who are persecuted and seek refuge in the land of the “fair go” then she must take the brave step to take the asylum seeker issue off the political spectrum.

It is too big a job and too complex an issue to think one side of government can come up with a solution.

It hasn’t in the past decade so why should it change now. The solution is simple. Julia Gillard can show real leadership and take it off the election agenda by taking a bipartisan approach.

Invite all sections of government to do the unthinkable: work on a solution together for the benefit of the country and of those poor souls who have no choice but to risk the seas and the dregs of society who benefit from their misery. It appears obvious, but we won’t hold our breath.