When rumours began swirling over the weekend that former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg might be poised to return to politics, fiery commentary broke out on both sides of the political spectrum.

Did Frydenberg - or those loyal to him - want to muscle out of contention a young, Oxford-educated woman who had already won pre-selection to contest the Victorian seat of Kooyong, in the next election?

As one woman put it, “Women are not collateral damage for Josh Frydenberg’s regrets”.  

Today, columnist Jacqueline Maley on Frydenberg’s spot in the sunshine after a two year-retreat from public life. And whether this latest political powerplay has benefited, or harmed, the former treasurer and the Liberal party.

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