Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull
Born	Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (1954-10-24) October 24, 1954 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)	Politician, businessman, barrister
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	29th Prime Minister of Australia (2015–2018)

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is a former Australian politician, businessman, and barrister who held the office of the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 until 2018. He served as leader of the Liberal Party twice, first between 2008 and 2009, and then from 2015 to 2018, while representing the New South Wales electorate of Wentworth from 2004 through 2018.

Originally from Sydney, Turnbull completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees at the University of Sydney, followed by postgraduate studies as a Rhodes Scholar at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Law. His professional background spans over twenty years across journalism, law, merchant banking, and venture capital. Between 1993 and 2000, he chaired the Australian Republican Movement and was the leader of the "Yes" campaign during the 1999 republic referendum. After entering Parliament in 2004, he was appointed as Minister for the Environment and Water in the final term of the Howard government in 2007.

Following a second-place finish in the 2007 Liberal leadership contest, Turnbull secured the party leadership in a 2008 spill and assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition. His endorsement of the Rudd government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme triggered a leadership challenge by Tony Abbott in 2009, resulting in Turnbull's narrow defeat. Remaining active in politics, he was appointed as Minister for Communications after the Coalition won the 2013 federal election.

In September 2015, citing poor approval ratings for Abbott, Turnbull resigned from Cabinet and successfully contested the Liberal leadership against Abbott by ten votes, thereby becoming prime minister. His administration emphasized fostering innovation through initiatives such as the National Innovation and Science Agenda, which aimed to enhance STEM education, boost venture capital investment in startups, and stimulate an "ideas boom." The government also negotiated "city deals" with state and local authorities to advance infrastructure development projects including Western Sydney Airport. The Coalition secured a narrow victory under Turnbull’s leadership during the 2016 double dissolution election. In his second term, he led the successful "Yes" campaign during the same-sex marriage plebiscite and unveiled plans for Snowy Hydro 2.0, expanding renewable energy capacity. The government encountered a parliamentary eligibility crisis in late 2017 related to dual citizenship complications.

To tackle energy policy challenges and climate change concerns, Turnbull introduced the National Energy Guarantee in August 2018. Although initially endorsed within Cabinet, it faced rejection from party members. This setback, combined with declining poll numbers, precipitated a leadership spill challenge from Peter Dutton. Although Turnbull defeated Dutton in an initial ballot, ongoing internal opposition led him to abstain from contesting a subsequent spill. On 24 August 2018, Scott Morrison replaced him as prime minister. Shortly thereafter, Turnbull resigned from Parliament, prompting a Wentworth by-election won by independent Kerryn Phelps that resulted in the Coalition losing its majority in the House.

Following his departure from politics, Turnbull has provided advisory services to Kasada, an Australian cybersecurity firm. He has publicly criticized the trajectory of the Liberal Party and collaborated with former adversary Kevin Rudd in denouncing Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp for its dominant influence over political discourse in Australia.

Early life and education

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull entered the world in Sydney on 24 October 1954 as the sole offspring of Bruce Bligh Turnbull, a hotel broker, and Coral Magnolia Lansbury, who was a radio performer, author, and academic with familial ties to British actress Angela Lansbury. His maternal grandmother was born in England, while his other grandparents hailed from Australia. Additionally, Turnbull's ancestry includes Scottish roots; his great-great-great-grandfather John Turnbull arrived in New South Wales in 1802 and worked as a tailor. The middle name "Bligh" pays tribute to Governor William Bligh. His parents tied the knot in December 1955, over a year after his birth. The family initially resided in a two-bedroom apartment in Vaucluse, where he attended the local public school. Bruce and Coral's marriage was troubled and ended when Coral left with historian John Salmon, resulting in Turnbull being raised solely by his father. During childhood, he faced asthma and experienced bullying at boarding school related to bedwetting.

Turnbull gained admission to Sydney Grammar School on a partial scholarship after relocating from Vaucluse to a modest flat in Double Bay due to financial constraints. Subsequently, his father’s business prospered, enabling the family to move into a spacious apartment in Point Piper, which alleviated concerns about school fees. Academically, Turnbull distinguished himself particularly in Greek, English, and History and was actively involved in debating and drama societies. He served as senior school co-captain in 1972 but did not achieve dux status that year. In 1987, he founded the Bruce Turnbull means-tested scholarship at Sydney Grammar.

In 1973, Turnbull commenced studies at the University of Sydney, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science (1977) followed by a Bachelor of Laws (1978). During this period, he contributed to the university publication Honi Soit, participated in student politics as a board director of the University of Sydney Union and a member of the Students' Representative Council, and worked part-time as a political journalist. It was also around this time that he met businessman Kerry Packer, for whom he later provided legal counsel.

In 1978, Turnbull was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Brasenose College at Oxford University. Initially enrolling in business studies, he later transitioned to pursue a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree, graduating with honours in 1980. While studying at Oxford, he wrote for newspapers both in Australia and the United States and held a position at The Sunday Times. During this time, he developed a friendship with future UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who has acknowledged his role in encouraging her husband’s marriage proposal. He also met his future spouse, Lucy. A university academic once characterized him as someone who would "enter life’s rooms without knocking," highlighting his confident demeanor.

Costigan commission

Following his graduation from Oxford, Turnbull returned to Australia to practice as a barrister. Between 1983 and 1985, he held the roles of general counsel and secretary at Australian Consolidated Press Holdings Group. During this period, he represented Kerry Packer in defending against serious accusations brought by the Costigan Commission, which included charges of murder and other offenses. Employing assertive legal strategies, Turnbull published an extensive 6000-word statement accusing the commission's counsel of dishonesty, a move that rallied public opinion in Packer’s favor. He subsequently recommended that Packer initiate defamation proceedings, although the court dismissed the case as an abuse of process. These confrontational tactics led to tensions within the NSW Bar Association, ultimately prompting Turnbull's exit. Following the commission’s conclusions, Turnbull successfully persuaded Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen to convene an inquest that disproved the murder allegations against Packer.

Spycatcher trial

In 1986, as a co-founder of the law firm Turnbull McWilliam, Turnbull defended former MI5 officer Peter Wright in relation to the publication of Spycatcher. The British government attempted to prevent the book's distribution in Australia due to its sensitive content. Turnbull contended that comparable works had been allowed previously and exposed governmental misconduct during court proceedings. His effective defense blocked efforts to suppress the book within Australia, elevating his professional reputation and contributing to domestic sales exceeding two million copies. He later authored The Spycatcher Trial, chronicling this landmark case.

Other legal work

In 1987, Turnbull partnered with former NSW Labor Premier Neville Wran and Nicholas Whitlam, ex-CEO of the State Bank of New South Wales, to establish investment banking firm Whitlam Turnbull & Co Ltd. After Whitlam's departure in 1990, the company operated under the name Turnbull & Partners Ltd until 1997.

Turnbull left the firm in 1997 to assume the position of managing director and subsequently partner at Goldman Sachs Australia. He also served on the board of Star Technology Systems from 1993 to 1995 and chaired Axiom Forest Resources, which managed logging activities in the Solomon Islands through Silvania Forest Products. This venture attracted criticism for its clear-felling methods and regulatory violations.

In 1994, Turnbull invested $500,000 in ISP OzEmail, eventually selling his shares for $57 million to MCI Worldcom in 1999 shortly before the dot-com crash.

In 2002, Turnbull appeared before the HIH Insurance royal commission concerning Goldman Sachs's involvement in a potential privatisation linked to the insurer’s collapse. Although no adverse findings were made against him or Goldman Sachs, he was among nine defendants who later resolved litigation related to the collapse through confidential settlements estimated at up to $500 million.

Early political involvement

Turnbull sought Liberal Party preselection for the Division of Wentworth ahead of the 1981 Wentworth by-election, but was defeated by Peter Coleman. In 1982, former prime minister William McMahon put forward his nomination for Lowe, yet the party selected a different candidate who subsequently lost the by-election. He also unsuccessfully pursued preselection for the state seat of Mosman in 1983. After allowing his Liberal Party membership to lapse in 1986, he rejoined in 2000. That same year, Turnbull was appointed Federal Treasurer of the Liberal Party and served on both its federal and New South Wales executive committees from 2002 to 2003. Additionally, he held a directorship at the Menzies Research Centre, which functions as the party’s research institute.

Australian Republican Movement

In 1993, Prime Minister Paul Keating appointed Turnbull as Chair of the Republic Advisory Committee, charged with examining the possibility of Australia becoming a republic. Later that same year, he assumed the position of Chair for the Australian Republic Movement, a role he fulfilled until 2000. As an elected delegate at the 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention, Turnbull championed the establishment of a parliamentary republic and endorsed the bipartisan appointment republican model that the convention ultimately adopted.

Turnbull led the Yes Committee during the unsuccessful 1999 referendum aimed at creating an Australian republic and authored Fighting for the Republic to support the campaign. Following the referendum's defeat, he publicly criticized Prime Minister John Howard for "breaking the nation's heart." Turnbull stepped down from his leadership role in the Australian Republican Movement in 2000, having previously left the board of Ausflag in 1994; he later became affiliated with the Australian National Flag Association in 2004.

Political Party Affiliation

Throughout his career, Turnbull has predominantly aligned with the Liberal Party of Australia. Nonetheless, during his active participation in the Australian Republican Movement, he considered pursuing preselection with the Australian Labor Party. His mother maintained close relationships with notable Labor figures including Premier of New South Wales Neville Wran and Senator Lionel Murphy. Additionally, Turnbull had personal ties to Labor premier Bob Carr. In the 1990s, he engaged in discussions with Labor politician John Della Bosca about a potential party switch and once aspired to lead the Australian Workers' Union, which has connections to Labor. These associations were highlighted by former Labor Foreign Minister Bob Carr and referenced by Labor Leader Bill Shorten during the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

Entry to Parliament

In 2000, Turnbull initially sought Liberal preselection for the Wentworth seat but withdrew after determining that incumbent preselection contender Peter King enjoyed stronger support within party branches. He challenged King again in 2003 and secured Liberal endorsement following a contentious preselection battle, during which King accused him of branch stacking—the practice of recruiting local members to influence internal party votes.

After losing preselection, King contested the 2004 federal election as an independent candidate, transforming Wentworth from a traditionally safe Liberal seat into a three-way contest involving Turnbull, King, and Labor’s David Patch. Turnbull invested more than $600,000 in his campaign. Despite a 10.3% decline in Liberal primary votes to 41.8%, King managed only 18%, and preference flows favored Turnbull over Labor by 57% to 43%. Turnbull was ultimately elected with a diminished two-party-preferred vote of 55.5%, experiencing a 2.4% swing against him and rendering Wentworth marginal for the first time since 1993.

Cabinet Minister

Announced on 24 January 2006, Prime Minister John Howard elevated Turnbull from a backbench position to parliamentary secretary, assigning him a dedicated role focused on water management amid the severe Australian drought of the 2000s. Subsequently, on 26 September 2006, Howard created the Office of Water Resources within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, placing Turnbull in charge to tackle drought-related challenges.

By January 2007, Turnbull was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for the Environment and Water. During his tenure, he granted approval for the AUD 1.7 billion Bell Bay Pulp Mill project in northern Tasmania, subject to compliance with 48 stringent environmental conditions set forth by the government’s chief scientist. This approval was finalized on 4 October 2007 and involved Gunns, the company behind the development.

In February 2007, Turnbull came under scrutiny over claims that he received a government allowance of AUD 175 per night, which he then paid as rent to his wife while residing in her Canberra townhouse.

During the 2007 federal election campaign, Turnbull committed AUD 10 million to explore a Russian technology purported to induce rainfall without cloud presence. Although promoted as an Australian enterprise, it emerged that the Australian Rain Corporation was predominantly (75%) owned by Swiss interests. Among its key stakeholders was Matt Handbury, Rupert Murdoch’s nephew. Turnbull refrained from commenting on any financial support Handbury may have provided to his campaign fundraising group, the Wentworth Forum.

Post-2007 election developments

Despite a national two-party-preferred swing of 5.4% away from the Coalition and a state swing of 5.6%, Turnbull managed to hold onto his Wentworth seat at the 2007 federal election with a reduced margin of 1.3%. Following John Howard’s loss in Bennelong, Peter Costello—who had been publicly endorsed by Howard as successor—declared he would not vie for party leadership. On that same day, Turnbull announced his candidacy and quickly emerged as a leading contender.

On 29 November, he narrowly lost the leadership contest to Brendan Nelson by a margin of three votes; Nelson then appointed Turnbull as Shadow Treasurer. Shortly thereafter, Shadow Cabinet member Nick Minchin suggested that Turnbull’s failure to consult colleagues before publicly expressing views on sensitive matters such as an apology to the Stolen Generations may have cost him the leadership. This led to internal friction, with Minchin privately telling Turnbull he was “too fucking sensitive.”

In May 2008, Turnbull led the Coalition’s response to the 2008 Australian federal budget, criticizing tax increases on luxury vehicles and certain alcoholic beverages due to concerns about potential inflationary effects.

Leader of the Opposition (2008–2009)

After enduring several months of poor polling results, Turnbull challenged Brendan Nelson for party leadership on 16 September 2008 and won by four votes, becoming Leader of the Opposition. Later that month, he disclosed having smoked marijuana during his youth—a first among Liberal leaders. Early in 2009, Turnbull appointed Chris Kenny, a former staffer for Alexander Downer and journalist with Advertiser, as his chief of staff. In May 2009, he criticized the 2009 Australian federal budget amid ongoing repercussions from the 2008 financial crisis.

In June 2009, Treasury official Godwin Grech contacted Turnbull alleging preferential treatment under the OzCar scheme for a car dealer linked to Labor, triggering what became known as the 'OzCar affair'. Turnbull accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan of abusing their offices and misleading Parliament. However, on 22 June it was revealed that Grech’s supporting email was forged; subsequent audits cleared Rudd and Swan. This controversy significantly harmed Turnbull’s popularity ratings.

On 24 November 2009, despite opposition within his party ranks, Turnbull publicly endorsed the Rudd government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). This stance led to an unsuccessful leadership spill motion initiated by MPs Wilson Tuckey and Dennis Jensen, alongside resignations from several MPs including Tony Abbott who left the Shadow Cabinet in protest.

On 1 December 2009, Abbott challenged Turnbull for party leadership and narrowly won by one vote. Following this defeat, Turnbull returned to the backbench and initially announced he would not recontest his seat. Nevertheless, on 1 May 2010 he reversed this decision after encouragement from former Prime Minister John Howard.

Shadow Minister (2010–2013)

During the 2010 federal election, Turnbull secured re-election with an 11.01% two-party swing favoring him. Following consultations with Tony Abbott, he was named Shadow Minister for Communications. His initial policy announcement declared that a Coalition government would completely dismantle the newly established National Broadband Network.

In his 2012 Alfred Deakin Lecture focusing on digital freedoms, Turnbull voiced strong opposition to the Gillard administration’s proposed data retention legislation set for two years. By July 2012, some Liberal MPs criticized Turnbull for supporting civil unions as a preliminary step toward legalizing same-sex marriage. Tony Abbott dismissed Turnbull’s request for a conscience vote on this matter.

Minister for Communications (2013–2015)

On 9 April 2013, Turnbull and Tony Abbott unveiled their party’s revised National Broadband Network (NBN) proposal, emphasizing a reduced-scale NBN featuring "fibre to the node" (FTTN) technology combined with copper cables for last-mile connectivity. This marked a shift away from earlier calls to abolish the entire NBN.

Following the Coalition’s victory in the 2013 federal election, Turnbull was appointed Minister for Communications and began executing the alternative NBN approach. In 2014, he revealed findings from the Vertigan Report—a cost-benefit evaluation of broadband options for regional Australia using wireless and satellite—indicating that continuing the plan would cost nearly $5 billion but generate only $600 million in economic benefits, roughly a 10% return. Despite these expenses, Turnbull stressed the importance of subsidizing broadband access in rural areas.

In December 2014, Turnbull negotiated an agreement involving the government, NBN Co, and Telstra whereby NBN Co would purchase Telstra’s copper network and hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) infrastructure to facilitate NBN rollout. Telstra and NBN Co partnered on an FTTN pilot project covering approximately 200,000 premises. By August 2015, Turnbull disclosed that total network construction costs might rise by up to $15 billion, with NBN Co expected to carry this as debt. Although more cost-effective than Labor’s original NBN plan targeting higher speeds, projected peak funding under the Coalition’s model ranged from $46 billion to $56 billion.

February 2015 leadership spill motion

Amid ongoing leadership disputes and declining poll numbers, a leadership spill motion against Tony Abbott was introduced on 9 February 2015. The motion was defeated 61 to 39; however, reports indicated Turnbull considered contesting leadership if successful. Before the vote, Turnbull affirmed that any party member could seek leadership without being disloyal if a vacancy arose.

September 2015 leadership election

Despite surviving the February spill, Abbott’s position remained vulnerable due to poor polling results. On 14 September 2015, following thirty consecutive Newspolls showing Liberal Party trailing Labor, Turnbull resigned from Cabinet and challenged Abbott for leadership of the Liberal Party. He criticized Abbott’s economic management and advocated for leadership that respects voter intelligence. Turnbull won the leadership ballot by 54 votes to 44 and was sworn in as Australia’s 29th prime minister the following day.

On 20 September, Turnbull conducted a Cabinet reshuffle that increased female representation from two to five ministers and appointed Marise Payne as Australia’s first female Defence Minister. The Cabinet size grew from 19 to 21 members. Regarding major policy differences with Abbott—such as climate change, republicanism, and same-sex marriage—Turnbull committed not to implement immediate changes prior to an election. To preserve Coalition unity, The Nationals secured $4 billion in agreements along with control of the water portfolio. Turnbull emphasized his commitment to leading a government that acknowledges climate change challenges.

2016 federal election

On 21 March 2016, Turnbull declared that Parliament would revisit legislation aimed at reinstating the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), which had been rejected on two prior occasions. He cautioned that if the Senate dismissed these bills once more, he would recommend to Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove the dissolution of both houses, triggering a double dissolution election set for 2 July. To accommodate this timetable, the delivery of the federal budget was advanced from 10 May to 3 May. The Senate again voted down the ABCC bills on 18 April. Subsequently, on 8 May, Turnbull advised Cosgrove to issue writs for a double dissolution election, confirming the 2 July date.

During the campaign period, a ReachTEL survey conducted on 31 May among 626 voters in the Wentworth electorate indicated a two-party swing against Turnbull, lowering his two-party preferred vote to 58%, down from a previously substantial lead. Controversy emerged when Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman, president of the Australian National Imams Council, attended an Iftar dinner hosted by Turnbull at Kirribilli House; Turnbull later expressed regret over this association due to Alsuleiman’s views on homosexuality.

The election outcome saw the Coalition lose 14 seats but still maintain government with a narrow majority of one seat—the tightest margin since the 1961 election. Following the vote, negotiations secured confidence and supply agreements with crossbenchers including Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie, and Cathy McGowan to safeguard against a potential hung parliament.

In February 2017, Turnbull confirmed making a $1.75 million donation to support the Liberal Party's election campaign.

Asylum seeker policy

Asylum seeker policy continues to be a contentious topic within Australian politics, particularly in the aftermath of the Tampa affair. The Coalition government has upheld the bipartisan strategy embodied by Operation Sovereign Borders. Around 1,250 asylum seekers remain confined in offshore processing facilities located on Manus Island and Nauru. In August 2016, protests demanded the closure of these detention centres following leaked documents that revealed "systemic dysfunction and cruelty" on Nauru.

Amidst a migration crisis originating in Central America, the Obama administration established a refugee processing centre in Costa Rica during July 2016. Later that same year, Prime Minister Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced an arrangement whereby Australia would accept 1,250 Central American refugees in exchange for the United States resettling refugees currently held on Nauru and Manus Island.

A January 2017 telephone conversation between Turnbull and President Donald Trump, which was later leaked, exposed strains regarding this refugee agreement. Trump publicly condemned the deal as "dumb," though Vice President Mike Pence subsequently affirmed U.S. commitment to it with assurances of "extreme vetting." Australia began receiving Central American asylum seekers under this pact starting in July 2017.

Energy policy

Following the 2016 election, the Turnbull administration continued to uphold existing Coalition energy policies, rejecting renewable energy targets and emissions intensity schemes. This position became more entrenched after South Australia experienced significant blackouts, which Turnbull attributed to that state’s "ambitious" renewable energy goals. In response to the gas and energy crisis in March 2017, Turnbull announced plans to increase Snowy Hydro's capacity by 50% through pumped hydro technology.

In April 2017, Turnbull invoked Commonwealth powers to enforce export limits on liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers. This measure was intended to mitigate elevated wholesale gas prices caused by domestic supply shortages with an aim to reduce costs. However, multinational gas corporations and industry bodies criticized this approach, contending it would neither boost supply nor lower wholesale gas prices.

Same-sex marriage plebiscite

Before Turnbull assumed the role of prime minister, the Liberal Party decided to address the issue of same-sex marriage through a plebiscite. However, legislation to facilitate this was twice blocked by the Senate. Consequently, the government opted for a postal plebiscite conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Ballots were dispatched starting 12 September 2017 after unsuccessful challenges in the High Court. The survey period ended on 7 November 2017, with results announced on 15 November revealing 7,817,247 (61.6%) votes in favor and 4,873,987 (38.4%) against.

Subsequent to the survey and following four days of parliamentary discussions concerning amendments including protections for religious groups, same-sex marriage was legalized on 7 December 2017 through a vote in the House of Representatives; Turnbull cast a "Yes" vote. The inaugural same-sex marriages were solemnized beginning 9 January 2018.

Parliamentary eligibility crisis

Members within Turnbull's administration became involved in the 2017 parliamentary eligibility crisis, which saw multiple parliamentarians disqualified due to holding dual citizenship as per subsection 44(i) of the Australian Constitution. Among the "Citizenship Seven" reviewed by the High Court of Australia were three Cabinet members: National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Senator Fiona Nash, and Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who stepped down after discovering potential dual citizenship issues. The High Court ruled Canavan eligible but declared both Joyce and Nash ineligible for Parliament.

Following Joyce's disqualification and Liberal MP John Alexander's resignation over similar citizenship concerns, the Turnbull government temporarily lost its slim one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, both Joyce and Alexander renounced their foreign citizenships and successfully reclaimed their seats in December 2017 by-elections in New England and Bennelong, thereby restoring Turnbull’s parliamentary majority.

August 2018 leadership spills

On 21 August 2018, Turnbull withstood a leadership challenge initiated by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, securing victory with 48 votes against Dutton’s 35. This contest highlighted ideological rifts within the Liberal Party between Turnbull’s moderate faction and the conservative wing led by Dutton and Tony Abbott. Over the following days from 21 to 23 August, tensions intensified as Dutton announced a second attempt to spill the leadership. Turnbull declared he would convene a party room meeting if a petition endorsed by at least half (43) of the parliamentary members was submitted, pending advice from the Solicitor-General regarding Dutton’s eligibility. On 24 August, after the Solicitor-General confirmed Dutton’s eligibility, Dutton presented a petition bearing the necessary signatures.

The ensuing party room meeting resulted in Turnbull being replaced as leader. Scott Morrison was elected prime minister by a narrow margin of 45 votes to Dutton’s 40. In his farewell press conference, Turnbull condemned Dutton and Abbott as "wreckers."

On 27 August, Turnbull announced his decision to resign from Parliament and officially submitted his resignation to the Speaker on 31 August 2018.

Political ideology

Affiliated with the moderate wing of the Liberal Party, Turnbull is recognized for his pragmatic, centrist stance, incorporating progressive and socially liberal perspectives. Drawing inspiration from former Prime Ministers Alfred Deakin and Robert Menzies, he highlighted in a 2017 address that Menzies intentionally positioned the Liberal Party at the political centre rather than branding it as strictly "conservative." Turnbull remarked: "The sensible centre, to borrow my predecessor Tony Abbott's term, was the right place then and continues to be so today." Since his departure from politics, he has expressed criticism toward the party’s movement towards more explicit right-wing policies.

Life after politics

On 1 June 2019, Turnbull transitioned back into the private sector, taking on the role of senior advisor at global private equity firm KKR. He returned to Australia by December 2019 and made an appearance on the final episode of Q&A hosted by Tony Jones on 9 December that year.

Turnbull publicly condemned the Morrison government for inadequate measures on climate change, advocating for a revival of his National Energy Guarantee (NEG) strategy. Writing in The Guardian, he urged Scott Morrison not to let the bushfire emergency go to waste and called for reinstating the NEG with more ambitious targets, noting that Morrison and Josh Frydenberg had once supported it but later abandoned it to placate the Coalition's right faction.

On 25 October 2020, Turnbull endorsed former PM Kevin Rudd's campaign for a "Royal Commission to ensure a strong, diverse Australian news media," aimed at scrutinizing Rupert Murdoch's media dominance. He publicly backed this petition, which became Australia's most signed parliamentary e-petition, gathering over 500,000 signatures. The petition was formally presented in Parliament by Labor MP Andrew Leigh on 9 November 2020.

In January 2021, Turnbull joined the board of the International Hydropower Association as a non-executive director and co-chaired its International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower. In 2025, his company sold two pumped hydro projects (Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam) to AGL, aiding the energy provider’s shift from coal toward renewable energy sources.

In 2023, Turnbull delivered an address at the Centre for Asia Pacific Resilience and Innovation’s annual forum held in Taipei, Taiwan. He cautioned that Taiwan faces greater risks from internal sources spreading misinformation than from external threats, referencing recent tensions involving China.

Personal life

Turnbull is married to Lucy Turnbull (), who served as Lord Mayor of Sydney (2003–04) and has held various notable positions. The couple wed on 22 March 1980 in Oxfordshire while Turnbull was studying at the University of Oxford. They live in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

They have two grown children, Alex and Daisy, and as of July 2016, three grandchildren. Alex is married to Yvonne Wang, who is of Chinese heritage.

The middle name Bligh is a family tradition shared by Turnbull and his son. An ancestor named his child William Bligh Turnbull after Governor William Bligh during the period of the Rum Rebellion.

In 2008, Turnbull became the first Liberal leader to openly acknowledge having smoked cannabis.

Religion

Originally brought up in the Presbyterian faith, Turnbull adopted an agnostic outlook in his early adult years before embracing Roman Catholicism by mid-2002, a decision influenced by his wife's Catholic heritage. Nonetheless, he has expressed public dissent regarding the church’s stances on issues such as abortion, stem cell research, and marriage equality. Turnbull advocated for legislation that relaxed limitations on the abortion medication RU486 and cast votes supporting the legalization of somatic cell nuclear transfer, even though these positions were opposed by Cardinal George Pell, who was then the Archbishop of Sydney.

Personal wealth

In 2005, the combined net assets of Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull were valued at approximately 133 million Australian dollars, positioning him as the wealthiest member of the Australian Parliament until billionaire Clive Palmer entered politics in 2013.

Turnbull was listed on the BRW Rich 200 for a second consecutive year in 2010, with his net worth increasing to 186 million despite his ranking dropping from 182 to 197. He remained the sole sitting politician included in that edition. By 2014, he was absent from the list. By 2015, his net worth was estimated to have surpassed 200 million.

Honours

On 1 January 2001, Turnbull was awarded the Centenary Medal in recognition of his contributions to the corporate sector. Later, in the 2021 Australia Day Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, through significant contributions to national security, free trade, environmental protection and clean energy initiatives, innovation, economic reform, marriage equality, as well as business and philanthropy."

Published works

Turnbull has penned multiple books throughout his career:

• The Spycatcher Trial (1988)
• The Reluctant Republic (1993)
• Fighting for the Republic: The Ultimate Insider's Account (1999)
• A Bigger Picture (2020)

See also

• 2016 Australian federal election
• Turnbull government
• First Turnbull ministry
• Second Turnbull ministry

Bibliography

• Manning, Paddy (2015). Born to Rule: The Unauthorised Biography of Malcolm Turnbull. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522868807.
• Turnbull, Malcolm (2022). A Bigger Picture. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 9781743797884.

Further reading

• Gauja, Anika; Chen, Peter; Curtin, Jennifer; Pietsch, Juliet (2017). Double Disillusion: The 2016 Australian Federal Election. ANU Press. ISBN 9781760461867.
• McCaffrie, Brendan. "Trust Me, I'm the Prime Minister: Prime Ministerial Statecraft under Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison." In From Turnbull to Morrison: The Trust Divide (Melbourne University Press, 2019), pp. 354-369.
• McDougall, Derek. "From Malcolm Turnbull to ScoMo: crisis for the centre-right in Australia." The Round Table 107.5 (2018): 557-570.
• Masters, Adam B., and John Uhr. "Malcolm Turnbull: From Hope to Disappointment." In Leadership Performance and Rhetoric (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2017), pp. 119-134.

External links

• Official website
• C-SPAN: Malcolm Turnbull