Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described himself as a “free agent” when asked whether he would play a role in a future Teal and independent party. In an interview with The Briefing podcast, he backed the idea of a new centrist movement reportedly led by Teal MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender. However, Turnbull claimed he had not had any involvement in setting up a new party amid claims he was speaking to moderate Liberals, encouraging them to jump ship.
Turnbull's Stance on a New Party
“I’m not organising a new political party full stop, so I’m not involved in doing that,” Turnbull told the podcast. “Do I think it would be healthy if there were one? Yes, I think it would be healthy. But I support diversity in our politics. I like to see competition.”
Spender and Steggall, along with independent senator David Pocock, confirmed on Monday they are in discussions to form a new party in direct response to the rising popularity of One Nation. Turnbull added they could better serve constituents by being part of a party.
“Instead of saying, ‘I’m running to be your feisty independent’, giving speeches to an empty chamber from the crossbench, they can say, ‘I am running to be part of a government in which I expect to be the treasurer or the minister for the environment or something like that’.”
Criticism of the Coalition's Direction
Turnbull was also critical of the direction the Coalition has been heading in, saying it has gone too far to the right and has become too focused on “winning the applause of Sky News After Dark or the Murdoch tabloids”.
“They’ve kept going off to the right with very predictable results. So, the more the Liberal Party tries to emulate One Nation, the more it validates One Nation,” he said.
Malcolm Turnbull says the Liberals’ push to the right is emboldening Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. “If you say tough on immigration is an important thing ... then people who are concerned about that will say ‘I may as well vote for the real deal or vote for Pauline’.”
“The problem is that you cannot outflank One Nation.”
Turnbull's Future Role
As to what his future is with the new centrist movement, the former Liberal leader would not rule anything out. “I’m a free agent. I’m still a member of the Liberal Party,” he said. “I’m 71, not 51. So it’s really up to others to take the lead on this ... that are already in parliament and have demonstrated that this type of centrist, small ‘L’ liberal approach is one that finds support with their electorates.”
