The Australian’s Dennis Shanahan says Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ended the year “on a high,” compared to where he started 2020.

“His team has performed well,” Mr Shanahan told Sky News host Peta Credlin.

“He is confident, and he feels that he can rely on the team,” he said.

However, Mr Shanahan said there are also problems for the government.

“We saw last week, Scott Morrison had to intervene on a major defence issue, on the Brereton report, and on foreign affairs he had to come in on the top level about the Chinese tweet”.

“These are indications that Scott Morrison should not be overconfident about his team just because they’re in front, they’re doing well at the moment”.

Mr Shanahan said for Anthony Albanese it’s been a “bad year”.

“His leadership is under a cloud … he’ll be limping through next year”.