HomeBuilder is another example of Scott Morrison's disconnect with voters

Sure, he's marketing perfection. HomeBuilder® looks responsible ("boosting the economy") with a catchy name. But what's far more important to the PM is that the money will almost inexorably flow direct to his supporters (people with renovation plans and money to spend) in marginal electorates (sure, income restrictions rule out the wealthy, but not anyone "giving a go to get a go").

That takes craftsmanship!

Morrison saw an opportunity to reward his supporters and seized it, and that's exactly the problem. He's trashed good policy to produce his own version of The Block. This isn't about rebuilding the economy - it's about votes and appealing to what he wants Australians to be: proud home renovators and Liberal voters. That's why we've got this package rather than proper childcare. Offer that and women might work, rather than stay home looking after their children!

It's the epitome of Morrison's version of LiberalValues®.

That's why it's introduction, now, is so important. It demonstrates a critical, central flaw gnawing away at the very heart of his project to rebuild the country.

Leaders who survive - think Bob Hawke and John Howard - are attuned to the deep currents that are flowing through society, inexorably altering it. They often didn't liked this: think of Howard during his brief first and disastrous time as opposition leader.

Back then his advertising campaign was directed to traditional families living in detached houses, with neat gardens, and behind white picket fences. That wasn't Australia and he was rejected.

He learnt the lesson which is why, when he became leader again a decade later, he took pains to insist he was all for multiculturalism and accepted a huge boost in the number of Asian immigrants. Howard rode the change instead of attempting to stand in its way.

Morrison lacks this crucial capacity, the instinct to place himself on the right side of history.

This is the key thing to understand about HomeBuilder - it's not simply the scheme that's flawed but, far more importantly, the motivation behind it. Most of this spending would probably have occurred anyway.

The remainder just represents more being siphoned off from general tax revenue and directed into the pockets of tradies and homeowners in marginal seats. It's about rewarding those Aussies who Morrison thinks gave him the last election.

His problem is that this is not the way to win the next one. To do that requires choosing the best option for everyone, not marketing to just a few.

This decision reveals the PM's disconnect.

His housemate Stuart Robert has, by contrast, recognised when ideology conflicts with reality the only way to act is to choose the practical path. That's why he presided over the sensible reversal of robodebt. An embarrassing retreat, yes, but one that staunches greater pain in future and demonstrates an acceptance of reality.

And what better week to do this than one in which Labor's malfeasance over the live export ban of cattle to Indonesia was exposed as equally capricious; an action which will hit our coffers both significantly and badly.

Both of these disasters demonstrate the vital importance of good government.

Sometimes, in the past, it's been easy to doubt the moorings of truth to which the world is closely bound. As we watch the seeming disjunction between what we're told by politicians (or shock-jocks) and what's so obviously occurring all around us it's tempting, at times, to allow ourselves to get caught up in the anger and outrage and swallow the simplistic (but easy and oh-so-appealing) characterisations of issues as good and evil.

Mathias Cormann made exactly this mistake in the way he attacked the Black Lives Matter protesters. Doesn't he care about the killings in the US? Won't he act on the entrenched disadvantage here?

Isn't he ashamed incarceration of Aboriginal people here is far worse than that of black people in America and that, per person, more die in custody? Doing nothing, saying nothing, means accepting atrocious injustice.

His challenge of our democratic right to protest would have been so much stronger if it had been accompanied by one, just one, measure that he was going to push to help level the gap. Instead there was nothing - just empty condemnation, sowing discord and anger. It's no way to govern.

Good politics is hard. It requires explaining difficult concepts and working through complex alternatives, but there's a big pay-off in the end.

Today Morrison could be basking in adulation from both the construction industry and the public sector if only he'd directed funding to public and social housing. Far more importantly, it would have given him a chance to refashion the sector in his own image and change it so it was propelling his values of self-reliance, individual effort, and initiative. Instead he's squandered the chance by giving hand-outs to people who already own their own home.

It would be easy to believe Morrison had created these breaks specifically to target swinging voters in the coming Eden-Monaro byelection. That would be the logical, cynical 'take'. What's worse, however, is that I suspect that's wrong. The PM is rewarding his ideal of the 'typical Aussie.

The way this package is shaped is an utter reflection of Morrison's whole time in office so far. It's well meaning; but won't achieve the desired result - for him or the country.