“As your life rolls out in front of you, you’re the one who has to be in the driver’s seat,” said Prime Minister JG, introducing her new “script-free” campaign-image.

So is it the real Julia standing this time?

Can an atheist be real anyway?

Can an atheist stand for anything?

If there was no God, would there be a difference between good policy and bad policy?

Good is only really good if it means being in conformity with what is absolutely good, i.e. with the will of the good God, who is almighty and unchanging.

Otherwise what is “good” today might be “evil” tomorrow, the terms signifying merely what is in fashion or out of fashion in current thinking.

* * *

Meanwhile Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth has spoken up:

“Many Christians are concerned that someone who does not believe in God may not endorse the Christian traditions of respect for human life, for the sanctity of marriage and the independence of churches, church schools and church social welfare agencies.”

The Archbishop said he would not seek to influence the way Catholics voted . . . but he DID comment, “Some will undoubtedly vote for Mr Abbott because they appreciate his strong Christian faith.”

* * *

Tony Abbott, ex-Catholic trainee priest, distanced himself from Archbishop Hickey’s comments:

“I’m not going to comment on anything that may have been said by any churchmen. I think that we should respect people’s private religious views . . . every contender and candidate in this election should be judged on competence and policies, not personal beliefs or religious convictions.”

That remark begs so many questions. It is so meaningless. So obviously gormless.

But so politically astute.

Mr Abbott knows that all he has to do now is exactly nothing — shrink to a microscopic un-hittable target and the election will fall into his lap — as the ALP bungles, blunders and self-destructs itself out of the race.

Lots of Christians will be looking for independent candidates for whom to vote.