It is a bit like the teenage romance where the potential beau is just slightly out of reach but looking oh so alluring and he appears to be interested in us, in this case the voters. It’s flattering really. One can’t help but be impressed.
But this isn’t a school dance. This is politics and the Government of Tony Abbott is in trouble. Malcolm Turnbull is the only credible alternative leader. He is not declaring or challenging but he wants Australians to know his views, know him and know he is ready.
Opinion polls show he is a more popular leader while Tony Abbott’s approval ratings are still sliding.
Malcolm Turnbull used the Q&A appearance as an advertisement. For anyone who feels the Government isn’t listening to them, Malcolm Turnbull has an answer: he says politicians need to relate better to voters.
“Don’t slogan at them, don’t pretend problems don’t exist.”
Last night on TV the urbane, intelligent, amusing and caring Malcolm Turnbull came out to play. It was an audition of sorts and he did a good job.
In recent weeks Malcolm Turnbull and made it clear he isn’t challenging Tony Abbott and that he isn’t behind any leadership tensions. That is true. He has learned a lot since his earlier failed period as Opposition leader when he pushed too hard, was too domineering and the party threw him out over climate change policy. Many in the party, particularly the right wing said they would never have him back.
But this is 2015 and a lot has changed. The Government is struggling, significant numbers on the backbench are concerned still about Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s strategy and if things don’t turn around dramatically they will be looking again at the leadership.
Areas where Tony Abbott is weak, Malcolm Turnbull is strong. On TV last night he warned about the danger of treating voters like idiots. He basically bad mouthed the Prime Minister without ever using his name. He said politicians shouldn’t talk down to the electorate and don’t we all like to hear that because many voters feel that way.
With last year’s budget stuck in the Senate Mr Turnbull said that stronger advocacy and communication is what is needed. Mind you the Prime Minister is saying that also this week with the benefit of hindsight.
Outlining his own political ground Malcolm Turnbull said “Australian political contests are won or lost at the sensible centre.”
He also stood up for Philip Ruddock the ‘father of the house’ who was sacked by the Prime Minister as Chief Government Whip last Friday saying that was a ‘captain’s call’ that he and many party members were sad about.
“He is one of the absolute icons of the Liberal Party” Malcolm Turnbull said adding, “I was very sad to see the announcement.”
Cabinet and the National Security Committee are meeting in Canberra today. There is likely to be a lot of frank talking around the table. After last week’s trouble, the spill and the vote and the promise of better times ahead, nothing much has changed yet. The Philip Ruddock decision has created more divisions. The Liberal Party finds itself in an unusual place where it has become the focus of attention. This isn’t a place it wants to be. It is looking too much like the Labor Party it so criticised during the Rudd and Gillard years.
