His fault was the language he used in calling for the resignations of Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan in light of the fact that the Senate evidence from Mr Gresch – as admitted to the inquiry – was incomplete. As the alternative Prime Minister Mr Turnbull should be well aware that in diplomacy words are bullets and strays can do untold damage.

What it exposed was a flaw the Turnbull's proud and ambitious character - where caution and questioning were required until the facts surrounding the email had been established, he rushed ahead undaunted. Indeed, even after the mistake became apparent for all to see, his pride prevented him from relenting - it just isn't in Turnbull's character to follow the political playbook of former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to acknowledge a blunder early, apologise often and promise to make amends.

So now we know the email was a fake and the reputations of those who pushed its contents on the public are in tatters.

But the post-mortem to the scandal has also involved all sorts of ludicrous claims about the wrongs of bureaucrats leaking information and the need for more transparency in their dealings with MPs.

From a practical level that is nonsense. Canberra is a town that breathes politics - it is impossible for any journalist or politician to live in that city and not become socially friendly with a bureaucrat. It is inevitable that they will talk about politics as it is the number one topic of conversation in Canberra. It is also inevitable that people will elicit or deliver information for their own ends, be they to criticise the government, expose flawed policy or to publish an important story.

While leaking of government documents carries serious risks for the bureaucrat in question, I would far rather a society that appreciates the value and importance of leaks than one in which government shuts down dissent.

It has been my experience as a journalist that politicians will do whatever it takes to hide and cover up any form of official information that will embarrass their members or contradict their policies. I have known bureaucrats who have been ordered to destroy all copies of their research because their objective findings contradicted government ideology. I have known bureaucrats to be threatened with the loss of their superannuation if they speak publicly about the findings of their scientific research because it contradicted government policy.

It is sometimes very important for the government's confidential information to be exposed to the public eye.

However, the behaviour of Godwin Gresch, and the reactions of Malcolm Turnbull, Kevin Rudd and the media, to the situation he presented, makes it harder for the public to trust any of their institutions.

But, as they say, our institutions are but reflections of our society - the public lapped up the circus act and has allowed it to colour their political perceptions.

Our hypocrisy knows no bounds.