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Malcolm Turnbull: former journalist, banker, lawyer – and now Australia's PM Malcolm Turnbull: former journalist, banker, lawyer – and now Australia's PM
(about 3 hours later)
Malcolm Turnbull, the erstwhile journalist, banker, lawyer and businessman who is now Australia’s fifth prime minister in as many years, is seen as a progressive within the conservative Liberal party he has been dramatically voted leader of.Malcolm Turnbull, the erstwhile journalist, banker, lawyer and businessman who is now Australia’s fifth prime minister in as many years, is seen as a progressive within the conservative Liberal party he has been dramatically voted leader of.
His left-of-centre views, notably his support for climate change action and gay marriage, have not endeared him to the right of his party. Likewise, his staunch republicanism. But the communications minister known as “Mr Broadband” who has toppled Tony Abbott is well-liked across the political divide, according to recent polls. His more moderate views, notably his support for climate change action and gay marriage, have not endeared him to the right of his party. Likewise, his staunch republicanism. But the communications minister known as “Mr Broadband” who has toppled Tony Abbott is well-liked across the political divide, according to recent polls.
An only child raised in a single-parent family in Sydney, he is one of the richest politicians in Australia, his wealth estimated at around AUS$186m (£86.1m) in 2010.An only child raised in a single-parent family in Sydney, he is one of the richest politicians in Australia, his wealth estimated at around AUS$186m (£86.1m) in 2010.
In Britain, he became a thorn in the side of the government in the 1980s as the lawyer who defended the former spy Peter Wright in the “Spycatcher” case, famously overturning attempts to ban the publication of the ex-MI5 agent’s memoirs. Turnbull later wrote his own book about the trial.In Britain, he became a thorn in the side of the government in the 1980s as the lawyer who defended the former spy Peter Wright in the “Spycatcher” case, famously overturning attempts to ban the publication of the ex-MI5 agent’s memoirs. Turnbull later wrote his own book about the trial.
Related: After winning his prize, Malcolm Turnbull must learn from Abbott's mistakesRelated: After winning his prize, Malcolm Turnbull must learn from Abbott's mistakes
A decade later, he irked the British establishment once more, this time as head of the Australian Republican Movement, which forced and lost a 1999 referendum to replace the Queen as head of state. He later wrote a book about that, too, and has described his commitment to the republican movement as “pure and simple patriotism, a love of Australia – a desire or passion that all of our national symbols should be unequivocally and unambiguously Australian”.A decade later, he irked the British establishment once more, this time as head of the Australian Republican Movement, which forced and lost a 1999 referendum to replace the Queen as head of state. He later wrote a book about that, too, and has described his commitment to the republican movement as “pure and simple patriotism, a love of Australia – a desire or passion that all of our national symbols should be unequivocally and unambiguously Australian”.
Turnbull had a turbulent childhood – raised by his father, Bruce, after his mother, Coral Lansbury, a writer and academic, deserted the family home for New Zealand when he was eight, taking all the furniture with her. Originally state educated, he received a scholarship to attend Sydney Grammar, where he boarded and hated it. After studying law at the University of Sydney, he won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University.Turnbull had a turbulent childhood – raised by his father, Bruce, after his mother, Coral Lansbury, a writer and academic, deserted the family home for New Zealand when he was eight, taking all the furniture with her. Originally state educated, he received a scholarship to attend Sydney Grammar, where he boarded and hated it. After studying law at the University of Sydney, he won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University.
While there he married Lucy Hughes, the daughter of the conservative former attorney general of Australia Tom Hughes, who had followed him to England. Hughes, a former lord mayor of Sydney, has gently teased her husband over his habit of saying what he thinks, describing him as “the soul of indiscretion”.While there he married Lucy Hughes, the daughter of the conservative former attorney general of Australia Tom Hughes, who had followed him to England. Hughes, a former lord mayor of Sydney, has gently teased her husband over his habit of saying what he thinks, describing him as “the soul of indiscretion”.
After a brief flirtation with journalism, including working for the Sunday Times in the UK, he became a barrister. Other high-profile cases included his successful defence of Kerry Packer, the Australian media tycoon, before the Costigan commission in 1984 in the so-called “Goanna” case over allegations of tax evasion and organised crime.After a brief flirtation with journalism, including working for the Sunday Times in the UK, he became a barrister. Other high-profile cases included his successful defence of Kerry Packer, the Australian media tycoon, before the Costigan commission in 1984 in the so-called “Goanna” case over allegations of tax evasion and organised crime.
Investment banking beckoned and he became a partner in Goldman Sachs in New York. So, too, did the technology business, and in the early 1990s he co-founded OzEmail, which was then one of the largest internet service providers in Australia.Investment banking beckoned and he became a partner in Goldman Sachs in New York. So, too, did the technology business, and in the early 1990s he co-founded OzEmail, which was then one of the largest internet service providers in Australia.
Politics had always interested him. His maternal great-uncle was George Lansbury, the British social reformer who led the Labour party from 1932 to 1935.Politics had always interested him. His maternal great-uncle was George Lansbury, the British social reformer who led the Labour party from 1932 to 1935.
In 2004, Turnbull became Liberal MP for Wentworth, in Sydney’s east suburbs, and swiftly rose through the ranks, briefly serving as environment and water resources minister in John Howard’s government.In 2004, Turnbull became Liberal MP for Wentworth, in Sydney’s east suburbs, and swiftly rose through the ranks, briefly serving as environment and water resources minister in John Howard’s government.
In 2008, he was elected leader of the opposition. The following year he faced two leadership challenges, losing the second one by just one vote to Abbott. His credibility had been damaged when he attacked the then prime minister Kevin Rudd over an email, purportedly showing evidence of corruption, but which was later found to have been faked by a top civil servants.In 2008, he was elected leader of the opposition. The following year he faced two leadership challenges, losing the second one by just one vote to Abbott. His credibility had been damaged when he attacked the then prime minister Kevin Rudd over an email, purportedly showing evidence of corruption, but which was later found to have been faked by a top civil servants.
It was a “shattering blow” and he considered leaving politics in 2010. He later said: “Getting poleaxed the way I did, unless you are utterly lacking in any kind of self-awareness, it does a lot of damage to your self-confidence. These are shattering blows, you can’t pretend they are not, so you have to regain your confidence, and I am confident I can make a continuing contribution to Australian public life. But I have learnt not to plan too far ahead, just to do the task at hand as best I can.”It was a “shattering blow” and he considered leaving politics in 2010. He later said: “Getting poleaxed the way I did, unless you are utterly lacking in any kind of self-awareness, it does a lot of damage to your self-confidence. These are shattering blows, you can’t pretend they are not, so you have to regain your confidence, and I am confident I can make a continuing contribution to Australian public life. But I have learnt not to plan too far ahead, just to do the task at hand as best I can.”
Now he is back with a vengeance, regaining the leadership after challenging his friend, also a former Rhodes scholar, Tony Abbott.Now he is back with a vengeance, regaining the leadership after challenging his friend, also a former Rhodes scholar, Tony Abbott.