Turnbull: why the Liberals should keep him
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When Malcolm Turnbull became Liberal Leader, I was one who promised that it would be a rollercoaster ride, but worth it. Over the past ten days the rollercoaster has been heading rapidly and with a decent tailwind behind it, downhill. But it might have reached the bottom and if it has, the slow climb up will begin. This is politics Turnbull style, and it is exactly why the Liberal Party should keep him. When you hang out with Malcolm its always interesting — just as it was when you set sail for the day with Paul Keating. And because it is interesting, it is worth holding on, because there will be some brilliant wins against your opponent along the way. The alternative in someone like Joe Hockey, is simply untenable. Hockey stands for nothing — he is simply a time serving careerist who’s only real claim to doing anything out of the ordinary was to sweat his way through an appalling 7.30 Report interview a decade ago when he could not explain the fundamental’s of the Howard government’s new tax system. Hockey is lazy and uninspiring — end of story. Turnbull took a risk on the Ute gate affair and it backfired — so what? As he said himself last week his role and that of his colleagues in the Opposition is to take the game up to the government, not simply sit there politely and allow the Rudd government an easy ride. But the spectacular failure of Ute gate — well the Gallery said it was a failure and so therefore it is — could easily be wiped from memory by a piece of tactical brilliance on Turnbull’s part. Perhaps on the substantive issue of climate change or the economy? On the latter there is no one better placed to attack the Rudd government’s excessive zeal for government intervention than Turnbull. That is an intellectual debate and he can take Rudd on and match him. The greatness in the political life does not come from those who are perpetually coloured grey. No, it is people like Winston Churchill whom history remembers. Churchill made many blunders — mistakes that make Turnbull’s Ute gate saga seem like getting caught putting a naughty extra spoonful of sugar in his coffee. Remember Gallipoli, and economic recklessness in the 1920s — both of which had Churchill’s colleagues saying of him that he was unstable and unsuitable? And then in modern times there is Bill Clinton. Two years into his presidency, with health care reform plan that crashed and burned under his belt, and his party is thrashed in the 1994 mid-term elections. Let’s not forget Keating himself. He spent the lead up to the 1993 election behind the eight ball, with the economy tanked after the recession he said we had to have. Keating’s tactics against Hewson were seriously high wire, including telling Hewson in the Parliament that if Hewson won the election, Labor would not block a GST in the Senate. Keating’s colleagues sitting behind him where collectively aghast. The Liberal Party should stick with a man who is intellectually head and shoulders over the rest of them, and who, if given the chance could reshape the Party. Turnbull’s liberalism as opposed to conservatism is in sync with the times, whatever the conservatives might think. The Liberal Party needs a leader who is given his head and allowed to make mistakes, even big ones. The reality for the Liberals is they were always highly unlikely to win the 2010 election and they should be using this time to modernize the Party and allow it to become again Robert Menzies’ walking down the middle of the road’ political force in Australia. Malcolm Turnbull is the one person who can do that for them, if only the Liberals can put away their knives for long enough. Greg Barns ran the 1999 Republic Referendum campaign for Malcolm Turnbull. |
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32 Comments
I have read some biased crap over the past couple of weeks from Libs supporting Turnbull. That full load of it wins easily. Hockey is lazy and uninspiring makes up the only semblance of reality amongst the garbage. They really do believe they were born to be in Government for ever. Have another read of this mornings polls Mr Barns and don’t give us the insult the mad monk Abbott tried to counter with this morning that everyone should get over the polls, forget about them, the electorate takes too much notice of them. I wonder why the Libs give the impression all is forgotten, the fake email will just go away because they refuse to make their computers available for inspection. Appears to be a good deal of whishin and hopin going on.
“and they should be using this time to modernize the Party and allow it to become again Robert Menzies’ walking down the middle of the road’ political force in Australia.” - Seems to me that position has already ben allocated, or are we to become effectively a one part state as far as policy goes?
Thanks Greg.
If Turnbull had sat on his hands, he would have been thrashed just as badly for not having a go. He had to have a go, and he landed a few excellent blows - especially on mealy-mouthed Swan. Pity the leftist media chooks can’t present a little bit of balance.
Who would have believed the heavies in Treasury of all places would stoop as low as they have done, to set up the Liberals with fake documentation. They do get plenty wrong that lot - by not even trying - but this was deliberate, and an otherwise smart lawyer fell for the three-card trick.
Bet it never happens again. The cream will rise to the top - no doubt about it - and Rudd will turn to sour yoghurt. You wait and see!!
If my memory is correct Greg Barns was a staffer in Hockey’s ministerial office at some point in the late 90s Apologies if this is not the case, but probably should’ve been mentioned by Greg if it is.
In answer to a question, the Prime Minister told the Parliament that neither he nor his office had attempted to obtain benefit for Rudd’s mate John Grant. Turnbull threatened Rudd’s staffer Dr Charlton’s career if he did not admit that Rudd had lied, Charlton said that there was no lie.
Turnbull’s subsequent attack on Keven Rudd demonstrates two things about Turnbull’s thought processes - (1) that politicians obtain benefits for mates (2) that politicians and their staff will lie about perks for mates.
Thousands of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on this disgraceful excursion. Mr Turnbull has yet to apologise to the Prime Minister and to the people of Australia.
Greg, this is just another in a long line of excuses for you being unable to back a winner.
“Turnbull took a risk on the Ute gate affair and it backfired — so what?” The problem is that Turnbull didn’t recognise that he was taking a risk!
Mr Lewis throws another absurd suggestion without any facts to support it. ” Who would have believed the heavies in Treasury of all places would stoop as low as they have done, to set up the Liberals with fake documentation”. What possible support do you have for more Liberal lies. There has been no proof of anything. The only treasury official in the gun is the Libs mole Grech. So unless you have information the Feds should be aware of, perhaps you may be wiser to zip it.
Good article. The facts are that, irrespective of your view on Utegate, it’s pretty irrelevant to most swinging voters and the Libs aren’t exactly overburdened with potential leaders. Turnbull stuffed up, pure and simple, and he’ll either learn from this or he’ll crash and burn. The reason it’s not a terminal mistake on his part is that a tactical errors (as Utegate was) are much less significant to swinging voters than policy errors. For mine, Turnbull should have referred to the email as being something that should be looked into and not suggested it was a smoking gun. He certainly shouldn’t have called on the PM to resign because no one believes it when opposition leaders do that anyway and it left him open to cop a hiding. I don’t condemn Turnbull for these errors, but he won’t want to repeat them.
The lie started and finished in the dark offices of Treasury. Whether it was Grech or not - it was in Treasury, where the greatest of all the gobbledy-gook is created - by top-down Wayne and so on down it goes. The POLICE put that out as fact - not me!
Pity is that all those guys in Treasury have far too much power, and they love to use it - usually covertly. Who says Grech was a Liberal mole - he did them far more harm than good, and may well prove to have been a Labor conspirator. Do you know DJPL - I sure don’t!!!
Oh dear, Lewis old chap. You are quite the hater of Treasury are you not? What was to stop the lowest ranked person at the request of anyone, sending the email to ensure it was on a Treasury Computer. Who says Grech was a treasury mole? Alas it was Mr Turnbull and his big mouthed “friend” Hockey. They admitted they had been receiving information from Grech which went back to before the Rudd government. Turnbull admitted he and Abetz had a meeting with Grech before the “Friday” Senate hearing. I wonder why Abetz is so afraid of a Senate Priveledges Committee enquiry? Surely sir, surely if he had nothing to hide he would jump at the chance to clear his name. But…………..as the PM mentioned, there are still many questions that remain unanswered, yet.
I am sad for you DJPL (name unknown) as you bleatingly repeat the Rudd spin. But please please spell “privilege” correctly. You lose any credibility when you misuse the English language while putting out the message of a PM caught out by his careless treasurer.
As for Treasury, that place has also been without credibility going back decades. I am no hater - just a reader of fact and performance, and treasury fails any test these last ten years.
Hey lewis dont ever be sad for me. I repeat, as your credibility diminishes with your every entry…Abetz, answer the question, be brave take courage, Abetz is a wanker and you know it otherwise you would defend the indefensible. incidently as this is not a classroom or a lecture from Liberal holier than thou wanks, I will spell how I wish to spell. Now instead of the usual Liberal Rudd and spin excuse, try this once, be a grownup and answer the question…why is Abetz scared of a Senate Priveledge Committee enquiry???????????? You know but you havent the intestinal fortitude to say it, he is in it up to his neck, he is frightened of what would be revealed. The county knows it, he knows it and you know it, just a little gutless huh Lewis baby? I look forward to your next contribution defending Abetz, let’s hear from you.
Oh for Pete’s (no, not Costello) sake Barnsey!!! Are you really suggesting that Turnbull can do any number of bloody stupid things because one day he may scrape the mud off real gold rather than fool’s gold?
Thanks Greg. I agree completely. So Malcolm gets into an embarrassing mix-up that will hopefully blow over with no one harmed. By contrast, Labor messes up state after state. And look who most of the media attack.
God Almighty spare us ,now we have a complete dead head in Ms Blackall telling us “Malcolm gets into an embarrassing mix-up that will hopefully blow over with no one harmed. ” The day dawned with an unprecedented THREE independent polls telling us dear Malcolm the Mad has completely lost the confidence of the country in his ability as a leader, NO not just a leader, as in anything and this lame brain arrives and invites us here to accept ‘it was an embarrassing mix-up.’ I rest my case your Worship. We are dealing with individuals in this Liberal camp who are escapees from men in white coats and straight jackets.
Grow up DJPL - why would anyone with a brain want to be part of a star chamber such as a “priveledge” committee that you can’t even spell. The only enquiry that should be held is a judicial committee that will have the guarantee of a fair trial - something Rudd and his cronies just won’t even consider.
Hear hear Graeme! Some people like djpl can’t seem to accept that it’s much more destructive to leave the state hospitals in complete chaos than it is to raise an issue in parliament that ends up going nowhere (at this stage). Polls go up and down all the time. They can bounce back as quickly as they went down.
Have to say I have rarely previously agreed with Tony Abbott but maybe in our debate _with focus on the core political (not personal) issues at hand_ we all could do with a cold shower?
I agree Andrew.
This episode has brought out the irrational hatred that a lot of people seem to have towards Malcolm. They know that foaming at the mouth over his wealth will not impress the voting public, so they have to find another excuse to have a go at him. Malcolm is just doing his job.
Again I am pleased to see your arrogant defensive non response Lewis, all you are doing is showing your inability to defend your Liberal mates. Amazing that you have no self pride also, as you push on with the stupidity of your contributions, not much to show for your loyalty to the Liberal cause today. But Malcolm the Mad will be grateful for your blind support, he needs all he can get. Oh I notice another of your ‘friends’ Chrissie Pyne has returned, embracing his leader with affection and being overcome with emotion about the Mad Monk Abbott’s deputy job. It will be kisses all round tomorrow, till young Chrissie realises what is about to ladder his socks
. Never underestimate a rejected seminary boy, hell hath no fury etc hehe
You are a sad and pathetic non-commentator. Definitely cold shower time.
Malcolm seem to be a guy who people feel strongly about (understatement). During the republic debate, his most bitter critics seemed to be Bronwyn Bishop and Sophie (now) Mirabella - which is kind of ironic. From my previous postings you can see I am not particularly a fan of the guy either. But that’s ok - I can recognise his undoubted talent and drive.
But I am at a loss to explain his tactics in the “utegate” thingy. It seems to me he had a serious chance of nailing Wayne Swan for porkies in parliament (accidental or deliberate is unknown). But instead he went for the PM based on the sworn testimony of some mouse who added a codicil to his testimony that he may be wrong or remember it wrong or something - that should have set 100 foot warning lights flashing and sirens blaring but based on testimony of that poor quality we got the now-famous “the Prime Minister has nooooooooooooooo choice but to resign” speech.
Cockup.
The problem for me is that Malcolm is now the boy who cried wolf - next time he takes aim at the PM, will we be listening? We need an opposition who keeps the government on their toes. An opposition that nobody listens to is worse than useless and is bad for our democracy
Bit of a shame - we had the chance of a robust and interesting debate over the “utegate” issue and Greg’s posting but we buggered it up by taking the easy option of personal abuse rather than debating the issues and respect for other points of view.
Bummer.
Some other time maybe….
In answer to Sean O’Connell I have never worked for Joe Hockey. I was Chief of Staff to Finance Minister John Fahey from 1996-99.
Different name, same scenario Greg, you are a biased Liberal, your comments reek of it. For all the bleatings of the die hard conservatives here, there have been no hard facts in support of Malcolm the Mad or Abetz absurd. Both hope to have their reported actions covered by parliamentary privledge. If they have nothing to hide they would invite the Federal police to examine the hard drives of each and everyone of their mps. Will they?Of course not. I ask again also regarding Hockeys use of a vehicle by he and his electoral office staff in North Sydney. Has it been declared? How did he come by it? There is nothing but silence, Do you loud attackers of the PM and Swan not expect the Labor Party to have the same details? and will ask the same questions? I repeat Mr Rudds words, the nightmare for the Opposition has just started. To attempt to bring down a Prime Minister and hence his Govt, is not something that is brushed aside. Surprised you have not included that in your article Mr Barns.
‘DJPL’, I’m a rusted on Labor voter and campaign volunteer and I by no means agree with everything Greg Barns writes (particularly when he’s got his lawyer hat on) but Turnbull’s actions over utegate were a dumb mistake, not a hanging offence. An opposition leader calling on the PM to resign is actually not a big deal. They do it all the time and no one believes them. Just as no one believes PMs or Ministers’ every word about the Opposition Leader. Just as no one reading your comments (or mine, quite often) would be particularly convinced that these comments are free of political bias. It’s politics as normal.
The utegate issue has injured Turnbull and how he responds to that will be interesting. What we do know for sure is that the specific details of utegate will have been well and truly forgotten in marginal seats around the country by the date of the next election (unless the election is much earlier than expected).
Finally, Barns is clearly not a Tory and resigned from the Liberal Party very, very publicly. Surprised you have not included that in your comment Mr DJPL.
Thanks Dave.
Gee I wonder who DJPL really is. Sounds like he is right in the heart of Labor spin.
Greg, following on from what Dave said in his last paragraph, I’m sure I would not be the only one to say you are very much missed in the Liberal Party. I note that apart from Kerry Chikarovski, you were the only one who spoke up for the rights of single women & lesbians in re IVF when that became an issue several years ago. I hope that one day things will change and you will be able to come back to the Liberal Party.
Jillian Blackall, my recollection is that Howard jumped on the single women/lesbians IVF issue simply because he was copping some flack over the GST that particular week. I was angered by this and called my then local MP, Dr Andrew Southcott. I put the view to his electorate officer that, as a medical doctor, Southcott should have a better understanding than most that IVF is a medical procedure and access to it should be based on medical grounds, not social grounds. Surprisingly, Southcott called me back personally. He was quite happy to admit that the party’s position was all about “listening to certain constituencies” which he further admitted meant sucking up to Christians for purely electoral reasons. I had to give him marks for honesty and effort, despite being appalled at the policy position.
Dave, I had a similar experience. I rang Senator Marise Payne’s office and spoke to someone there for over half an hour. Although the staff member generally seemed to agreed with me, she said unfortunately it was a lost cause.
Correction to grammar: …generally seemed to agree with me…