The metaphor was almost too literal,writes Mark Kenny of the Coalition government's difficult week.
The Liberals’ problems in this campaign have emanated entirely from Canberra and the damage has been cumulative. The amateurism has been staggering.
Scott Morrison's attempts to dissuade another female MP from retiring has failed with Ann Sudmalis set to go at the next election.
Malcolm Turnbull was betrayed by plotters but it was voters who were really let down.
The grievance against the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull is personal and emotional for colleagues on the party's right wing. For them it is simply unfixable.
Labor is waiting to find out who it will face as the election nears.
Australians cannot reasonably be asked to put their trust in Malcolm Turnbull if he cannot even claim that from close to half of his own colleagues.
Risky as they were,the moves against prime ministers in the past have held out the hope of a poll bounce - where is that promise this time around?
Anthony Albanese has ruled out challenging for the Labor leadership even if the party loses ground on Super Saturday
Malcolm Turnbull is inching cautiously towards a climate-energy package the states can back,but risks creating further tensions within his divided party room.