With less than a day passing after Coalition stalwart Nick Minchin announced his retirement from federal politics, Tony Abbott wasted no time in using the opportunity his exit presented to reshuffle his front bench.

More specifically, he finally had an excuse to shift long-time pain in his bum, Barnaby Joyce, from his finance post and into something a little less visible — and he siezed it with both hands around Barny’s throat.

According to The Australian‘s Paul Kelly, Malcolm Turnbull immediately piped up from the backbench with “Pick me, pick me!”, but in the end, he went with the more conservative choice (both literally and figuratively) of Andrew Robb.

But will it be enough to bring the Opposition’s economic credibility back from the brink? Will it actually stop Joyce from running his mouth off, or just give him more free time to perform in front of the press pack? And has he opened the door for the triumphant re-emergence of Malcolm Turnbull?

Here’s how the pundits see it:

The Australian

Paul Kelly: Turnbull’s return to frontbench a step too far Tony Abbott

The removal of Joyce shows Abbott’s ability to correct his mistakes.

Dennis Shanahan: Labor’s crowing over Barnaby may backfire

Abbott will also be seen as having acted as a leader should and to be in control of his team.

Sydney Morning Herald

Editorial: Abbott passes reshuffle test

Abbott has shown skill in winning the public back to the Coalition

Lenore Taylor: Joyce is neck-deep in water

Now Joyce, defender of the rights of upstream irrigators, has to adjudicate the fight

The Age

Editorial: Abbott misses an opportunity to rebuild

Mr Turnbull would be a far better finance spokesman

Grattan: A quick hit, or it would get ugly

If Abbott had delayed, the Turnbull factors would have come increasingly into play.

Courier Mail

Dennis Atkins: Tony Abbott shows that he just doesn’t get Queensland in dumping Barnaby Joyce

… he has humiliated one of the most senior Queensland Nationals – someone who has much greater recognition than party leader Warren Truss.

Daily Telegraph

Malcolm Farr: Ruthless response to reckless ramblings

Joyce could never be finance minister should there be an Abbott government.

ABC

Fran Kelly: Tony Abbott on the run

Senator Joyce is a talented politician who will inflict damage on the Labor Government now that he’s free

Elsewhere…

Grog’s Gamut: Shutting the Barnyard door after the horse has bolted

… thanks anyway Barnaby; you helped the ALP kill any momentum Abbott had more times than anyone else.