Nothing like a trip abroad to boost the PM’s popularity, not only thanks to a detente from bickering with her opposite number, but also for achieving a solid foreign policy win with China on the global stage, which she had flagged as her weakness coming into the role.

Gillard’s seat at the table with China’s Premier and President not only gained her saturated media coverage, but a quick analysis of the response on Twitter shows a spike in the polls is likely to follow. Ministers Bob Carr, Bill Shorten, Craig Emerson and Stephen Smith joined their boss up north and stayed north on our charts too, with Carr taking a swipe at Margaret Thatcher along the way.

Also making news were Tony Abbott and opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull’s NBN policy. Their cheaper, slower option got a great run in the News Limited tabloids. It would not replace the copper network, with users paying for cable to their homes from a nearby box if they want it.

Also in the numbers this week, a forlorn SA Premier Jay Weatherill on the job cuts at Holden’s Elizabeth plant, Schools Minister Peter Garrett on changes to NAPLAN, K-Rudd still in our top 10 despite doing nothing of much national importance and WA Premier Colin Barnett on the asylum seeker boat that sailed undetected into Geraldton Harbour.

Crikey Political Index: April 4-10

Bill Shorten made news discussing his trip to China with the PM and finally weighing in on the superannuation discussion.

Talkback top five

Social media conversations about the opposition’s NBN policy were generally critical.

Social media top five

Gold Logie winner Asher Keddie appeared a little stage-struck in her acceptance speech on Sunday night. Bless.

Comparisons on media mentions