AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull may have reaped some political dividends as host of the Asean summit in Sydney. At the very least, it provided him with a chance to appear statesman-like for a while and turn media attention away from his declining polls numbers. At the end of the week, he may even have convinced some of his own people that the South-east Asia region may contain some valuable partners in an uncertain world.

Certainly, he had a better time than when he engaged in fruitless debates about the rise of China, its claims in the South China Sea as well as Beijing's economic forays in the wider world - all of which Australia can do almost nothing about.

He must also be relieved that his recently sacked deputy, Barnaby Joyce, erstwhile leader of the National Party, the junior partner in his coalition government, is no longer causing him embarrassment. To recap: first Mr Joyce almost brought the government down when he was disqualified from sitting as a member of Australia's parliament because he was a dual citizen. He had to renounce his New Zealand citizenship and stand for election all over again, which he won. Then, a few months later, Mr Joyce was outed as the father of a baby due in April by a former media adviser. He is separated from his wife. He was also revealed to have been living rent-free in a home owned by a businessman. Mr Joyce then claimed that the baby his partner was carrying may not be his.