Has Gillard turned the corner? Laurie Oakes seems to be saying so.

It seems that Oakes is the first major Australian journalist to twig that Tony Abbott's time in the spotlight is fading fast and a big carbon tax win under the belt of Julia Gillard has her starting "at long last, to look more prime ministerial".

Last week Laura Tingle reported on Abbott as a "hollow man".

But this week it gets serious as Laurie Oakes opines that a lot of the swing to Gillard was handed to her by Alan Joyce of Qantas. Industrial relations is her strong point. And Abbott's Achilles heel - exposing him as an IR empty vessel.

But apart from the long-awaited carbon tax restoring some faith, the cigarette plain packaging laws got through on Thursday. So two major laws passed and policy platforms delivered - both against the huge warchest dollars of major vested interests. Square away the mining tax and pokie laws, and you've got what it would be quite fair to call a roll.

And the visit by Barak Obama next week will accelerate the swing as Oakes says. In person, Gillard is amazingly likeable, close and friendly. And she has no personal space issues, so expect to see many winning photos like the one in this article next week.

Other journos like Latika Bourke are still calling the ALP dead at the next election. I don't think so. And I think Oakes doesn't either, but just isn't quite game to make the call publicly yet.