During a meeting with Aboriginal leader Ivan Brim in 2002, the prince horrified decent-thinking Australians by asking: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”

So there’s a dark irony in the fact Prince Philip was this week ordained as one of Australia’s first knights, on the same day our indigenous population marks the invasion of their land.

It also coincided with a day many white Australians question the value of being part of the monarchy, with everything from our Union Jack-emblazoned flag to our national anthem up for debate.

That Prime Minister Tony Abbott displayed breathtaking political naivety – or arrogance – in making the announcement is a given.

The PM has been roundly condemned for choosing a foreigner to receive Australia’s highest honour as his “captain’s pick”.

Even cabinet colleague Barnaby Joyce questioned his leader’s judgment, yesterday saying he was of the “strong belief that all awards should be for Australians”.

This is less a debate about the merits of Prince Philip’s contribution to Australia, and more about Mr Abbott’s ability to lead.

His latest political stumble comes on the back of the Medicare co-payment debacle and a string of other embarrassing gaffes.

Of course, we live in a hyper-speed news environment, where social media outrage and blanket media coverage make it harder than ever for incumbent governments. 

But by any measure, Mr Abbott is floundering.

The government has a respectable record of achievement and desperately needs to wrest back the narrative.

It cannot afford this public fixation on Mr Abbott’s performance, lest the next election become a referendum on his personality.

His leadership is now terminal.

Both Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop have impressive credentials and a consistently high preferred PM standing.

The government must seriously consider a leadership switch or risk being consigned to “one-term wonders”.