It’s so familiar and formulaic by now.

Drop a few stories that there’s “leadership rumbles” just before they take a break.

Run stories like “we are fully committed to our leader” because there is literally no comeback to that other than “oh, must be trouble!!”

While the leader is away, dig in the knife as much as possible…

• “'She's gone': Palaszczuk regime is 'in its final days'” - the Australian
• “Miles on tour: Acting Premier Steven Miles blitzes Queensland while Palaszczuk holidays in 'unofficial campaign' for top job” - the Courier Mail
• “She had the week from hell, then jetted off to Italy. Has Palaszczuk lost her halo?” - SMH

Rinse and repeat until either the media finds something else to play with, or the leader falls on her sword.