The Liberal frontbencher said comments made by conservative columnist Andrew Bolt “borders on the demented” in the wake of an article which refers to the communications minister’s recent dinner with Clive Palmer and his defence of the ABC.
Speaking to media on Monday, Mr Turnbull dismissed the comments.
“It borders on the demented to string together a dinner with Clive Palmer and my attending, as communications minister, the launch by a cross party group of friends of the ABC, and say that that amounts to some kind of threat or challenge to the prime minister,” he said.
“…I just have to say to Mr. Bolt, he proclaims loudly that he is a friend of the government, well with friends like Bolt we don’t need any enemies.”
Mr Bolt’s column, which appeared in News Corp publications on Monday, described Mr Turnbull as “the hungry Minister for Communications” and referred to the dinner he shared with Mr Palmer last week.
“This sent an unmistakable message to Liberal MPs — replace Abbott with Turnbull as prime minister and maybe Palmer will play ball,” it read.
“…This is Turnbull, on the far Left of the Liberal Party, charming a constituency that hates Abbott and which would back Turnbull to replace him — even if it still wouldn’t vote Liberal.”
Mr Bolt, however, did include a single line stating that he was “sure Turnbull isn’t contemplating any imminent challenge or is fostering destabilisation”.
In a response to the ABC, Mr Bolt said it was a shame Mr Turnbull didn't attack the government's media enemies with the same vigour he attacked its media friends.
“It just fits the pattern,” he said.
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