They saw Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as a major stumbling block to achieving their ambitions and selected Peter Dutton, the Member for Dickson as their “inside” man to facilitate Turnbull’s overthrow.

For most Australians, most of whom never imagined that our government could be disintegrated, in such a short time, into a state of disarray as often happens in other countries, it was a wake-up call.

Permanent damage has been done to Peter Dutton’s reputation and status that will never be fully recovered even though Scott Morrison has returned him to his former portfolio.

Australia has “lost” a Foreign Minister who was by far the best in this position in Coalition Governments of the last 50 years.

“Wounds” have been created in the Liberal Party that may take generations to heal.

The latest Newspoll shows that the government’s popularity is heading for the basement.

But this may not be the end of the damage caused by last week’s debacle.

While the National Party have, in the main, kept out of it they will no doubt feel its damaging effects when they come to select their candidates for the next elections.

The National Party have a very good, time tested system where local branches in an electorate come together to do this but the cooperation that existed in the past may have largely disappeared. In every “National’s” electorate there will be those who support the city-based ultra-conservatives and those, mainly in small business, salary earners and farmers who would much rather select a candidate on their merits.

This divide is particularly worrying here on the coast where Kevin Hogan in Page is threatening to move to the cross benches, Luke Hardsuyker in Cowper is not standing and David Gillespie in Lyne is a confirmed moderate.

It is hoped that the “outsiders” will keep their noses out of the selection process and that common sense will prevail.