The Daily Telegraph argues in its recent editorial that the paradox for Turnbull is that having taken the leadership on the promise of change, little has changed, pointing out that the perception of chaos and policy inertia have now become evident in the Turnbull administration.
Dumped former Prime Minister Tony Abbott wasnt only expressing the strongly held view of many of his colleagues when he released the first incendiary device into the party room on Tuesday over negative gearing. He was also saying: Pursue this at your peril.
Abbott also argued that the Defence White Paper released by Turnbull last week - but largely completed under Abbotts watch - was rewritten to delay the building of the next generation of Australian submarines by a decade.
The imputation was that Turnbull had a weak constitution for defence and national security.
Abbott would argue that his promise not to undermine Turnbull did not extend to protecting his legacy from the revisionism that would be necessary to justify his removal in the first place.
It may have all been different had the new PM succeeded in achieving what he set out do; namely, resetting the economic agenda and providing stable and adult government. Abbott then may have been able to move on and concede perhaps he got it wrong.
But the perception of chaos and policy inertia now evident in the Turnbull administration feeds not only Abbotts resentment but the frustrations of Liberal MPs who voted against change.
The manner in which Turnbull took the leadership and the undermining of the Abbott government was acute and structurally destructive.
The paradox for Turnbull is that having taken the leadership on the promise of change, little has changed.
Ipso facto, the responsibility for the governments instability must rest with the new leader.
