The latest test for Tony Abbott now will be whether he can get Barnaby Joyce to remain focused on bread and butter issues such as the price of bread, milk, gas and electricity in Labor’s proposed carbon tax economy – that’s where the votes are.

But if Barnaby Joyce’s first week in the job as Shadow Finance Minister is any indication of what is to come, then 2010 is going to be one hell of a ride for the coalition.

In his first few outings as Shadow Finance Minister, Joyce claimed the Queensland and US governments might default on their debts to which he was then slapped down by Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey. He then advocated Australia’s banks should be broken up and was brought to heel by Tony Abbott.

These sorts of utterances will cause Abbott more heartache than they are worth and should they continue, the Opposition Leader will be forced to make a choice. If he gets to that point, the game will be up. Credibility will be shot and the coalition will be fighting a rear guard action to save itself.

The punters don’t care about debt default, macro economics or the global paradigm.

In his first week, the brainstormer has proven his renegade credentials and in doing so emphasised what I said last week: his appointment was risky. While Joyce is a good retail politician, he will struggle with the discipline, compromise and restraint required of a Shadow Minister and might continue to act like a renegade.

The party is already scratching its head wondering what the broader electorate is thinking and asking what the Leader was thinking in choosing Joyce. They are all now buckling up for the ride.