It’s a way of describing issues which are really important to politicians, lobbyists, staffers and the media, but which mean very little to “ordinary” voters.

As the speculation about the future of Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce continues to swirl, I suspect we are going to see a substantial polarisation of opinions on the issue.

There are few people who would try to argue that Joyce has behaved well. He hasn’t.

But there are many, many people who believe this issue is a personal one, and even his decision to have his now-pregnant partner moved to jobs created for her in other Nationals’ offices has them unmoved.

Others believe he had brought disrepute to the parliament and should be tossed out on his ear.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull seems to be vacillating between those positions.

Mr Turnbull was fairly blunt in his assessment of Mr Joyce’s actions, which he called out publicly before introducing his so-called bonk ban to prohibit ministers from having sexual relationships with their staff, but then decided that though they’d had a public spat, the Coalition partners were still going to be hunky dory to work together.

As for Labor, they’re trying to take a few potshots without becoming the proverbial pots calling the kettle black.

But, nothing seems to have changed. There has been pontificating, sledging and speculation, but no firm action.

Wherever your politics falls on the spectrum, it would be pretty impossible to not be even more disillusioned than ever with our elected representatives.

Our national debt is hundreds of billions of dollars, workers haven’t seen substantial pay rises for years, businesses are struggling and electricity and gas bills are at levels that make them almost luxury items.

An increasing number of ordinary Australians are facing a real reduction in their standard of living as they have to cut “treats” out of their budgets just to keep food on the table and the mortgage paid.

Yet in Canberra – populated by overpaid MPs and their equally cashed-up employees – there seems to be very little clue as to the level of contempt help by Australians for their politicians.

We’re supposed to feel sorry for Joyce because if he was to be demoted to the back bench, he would “only" earn about $200,000? Cry me a river. 

The problem isn’t that our politicians and their staff are well-paid. It’s that our politicians are well-paid and their staff are well-paid and utterly clueless about the privileged position they occupy.

They are not paid so much so they can swan off to Canberra and enjoy the restaurants of Manuka. The high pay packets are supposed to reflect the sacrifices politicians are expected to make and the uncertain re-election prospects they may face.

We are told – usually during election night speeches – that our assorted MPs are humbled and honoured by the position handed to them by voters.

Yet, time and again, we see the reality of life in Canberra offers up the exact opposite of humble.

Whatever the good intentions of individual MPs, it seems something happens when they become part of the Canberra collective.

All to often those good intentions of serving the people are clouded by the disconnected  – and well-padded – nature of a life on Capital Hill.

Jody Lindbeck

jody.lindbeck@fairfaxmedia.com.au