A series of questionable decisions, and a mouth that seems to kick into gear well prior to his brain have plagued Abbott’s credibility almost since day one of his appointment.

But a fatal blow was struck this week with his absolutely bizarre decision to bestow a knighthood on the Queen’s hubby.

At first some of Abbott’s ministers made a feeble attempt to defend the decision, but a few days on, even his most conservative buddies have deserted him and there are many calling for his head on a plate.

With his unpopularity predicted to have a devastating effect on the Queensland and NSW state elections, the conquering hero who swept Labor out of power so convincingly has gone from hero to zero.

The knighthood decision, made without consultation with his cabinet, hurts for a number of reasons which have been well documented.  

But the juxtaposition in the Australia Day honours of  a royal relation from another country with the Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty calls into question the values of our great country.

Rosie Batty’s triumph over terrible grief to speak up for the voiceless victims of domestic violence has been applauded and welcomed by a grateful and admiring Australian public.

The very fact that our top honour, one that in the past has  controversially gone to film stars and sportspeople, has been given to such a worthy recipient gives us all pause to reflect on how far we have come as a fair and independent nation.

Then we turn around and anoint Prince Philip – a non-Australian who is mostly in the media for making the kind of gaffes even Tony Abbott would be ashamed of. 

Tony, it looks like you’ve done it this time.