But the relationship became particularly frosty in November after the PM’s last-minute intervention to scupper Plibersek’s deal with the Greens for a key environmental reform.

Labor pledged at the 2022 election to create a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which it said would bolster nature protections with an independent eye on development decisions and regulation enforcement.

By November 26 last year, Plibersek was close to cutting a deal with the Greens to establish the EPA.

But Albanese effectively killed it off by siding with WA Labor premier Roger Cook and ruling out any concessions to the Greens. That move disappointed Labor’s large base of environmentally minded grassroots members, but also removed the opportunity for Peter Dutton’s opposition, along with the resources sector, to mount a scare campaign.

Then, just three weeks after the EPA was scuppered, Albanese intervened in Plibersek’s handling of Tasmania’s salmon farming industry.

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He visited Strahan, on Tasmania’s west coast, in December to declare his support for salmon farming jobs in Macquarie Harbour even as Plibersek was deciding on the industry’s future after environment groups requested she revoke operating permissions to protect the critically endangered Maugean skate.

Plibersek was conspicuously absent when Albanese addressed local media, flanked by senator Anne Urquhart, who is Labor’s candidate for the seat of Braddon.

Little wonder, then, that not even a trip to Plibersek’s favourite tropical idyll this week could melt the tension.

Besides, Plibersek has been there before, as she made sure to say on Sky. “I’ve been in Cairns three times lately with [Labor candidate] Matt Smith,” Plibersek said. “I launched his campaign recently.”

And who launched Plibersek’s own campaign last week? Bob Carr, one of Labor’s most pro-environment premiers, and one who just happens to be a thorn in Albanese’s side on foreign policy.

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