By historical standards, Saturday night was a dismal night for the major parties. Combined they posted the lowest primary vote in 85 years and the Coalition its second worst primary since the Liberal party was founded. Even with the benefit of preferences, the government looks to have only just flopped over the line—the seat haul from the two-party preferred these days seems to be falling as the primary vote worsens. It was not just the raw numbers. The Coalition spent much of the campaign forced to defend its safest seats in Melbourne and Sydney, losing Warringah for the first time ever, while struggling to win back seats like Wentworth, Indi and Mayo that it never should have lost.

Yet the result was hailed by the Liberals and the media as a famous victory. Commentators were claiming that Morrison now has a free hand to do as he likes, even if, like Turnbull in 2016, he barely has a majority and could lose that over a term.