In Australia we get to change Prime Ministers when we want. It’s a rejuvenating experience - much like dropping weight or buying a new outfit. Out with the old! In with the new!

And if a week is a long time in politics, eight days is surely longer.

Just that many days ago a leadership spill saw Prime Minister Kevin Rudd shuffled from the top job to the very last row in Parliament. His new seat - in restaurant terms - is jammed between the kitchen and the toilets.

The night before I was in Canberra and checked into my hotel late at night - just as Kevin came to the lectern to defiantly announce he was proud of his achievements and would defend his role. That very night Julia Gillard was caught in the hallway by the media flock. With ashen face she said she would be contesting the leadership in the morning. It was a terrible image - pale, unhappy, caught in the cross-hairs.

Now we have a new Prime Minister - and the central issue that brought down Kevin Rudd has been successfully resolved. The front page of The Australian shows Gillard striding with immense confidence.

From a media relations perspective, this is another example of how reporters, editors, layout artists and photo editors work to present a holistic story. There’s no confusing the message here - Julia is on top of in Australia!