Malcolm Turnbull

former Liberal leader

After just over a year in the tough job of Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull was spectacularly displaced by Tony Abbott in a knife-edge leadership vote late last year. His leadership imploded on the issue of climate change, with conservatives in the Liberal Party rebelling against his stated intention of supporting Labor’s emissions trading scheme. Although he announced earlier this year that he would retire from politics at the next election, he subsequently changed his mind and will stand again next time.

Though frequently described as the richest man in Parliament and regarded by many as having a privileged background, Malcolm’s early years were spent in comparatively humble circumstances. Born in Sydney in 1954, he grew up in a single-parent household with his father, Bruce, after his parents separated. They lived in a series of flats, mostly rented.

Malcolm attended Vaucluse Public School and, with the aid of a scholarship, Sydney Grammar, to which in later life he donated a new scholarship program in his father’s name to help underprivileged students. After graduating from Sydney University with an arts-law degree, he won a Rhodes Scholarship and completed a further degree at Oxford.

During and after his university days Malcolm worked variously for The Bulletin, The Sunday Times in London and Sydney radio and TV stations as a journalist before entering the legal profession in 1980. He achieved international renown when he defended former British spy turned author Peter Wright against the UK Government in the Spycatcher trial.

He left the law for business in 1987, working as a merchant banker and becoming involved in starting up many successful businesses, including Ozemail. From 1997 to 2001 he was chairman, managing director and then partner of the Australian arm of international investment banking giant Goldman Sachs.

In the late 1990s he became widely known for leading the Australian republican cause, advocating the case for a republic up to the failed referendum on the issue in 1999. He entered Parliament in 2004 and represents the seat of Wentworth which covers Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Malcolm and his wife Lucy have two adult children and live in Point Piper in Sydney.

Turnbull assault on climate of fear | The Canberra Times | 14 June 2010
"The Rudd Government has been forced to defend its position on climate change after former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull unleashed a vitriolic attack on its political cowardice over its emissions trading scheme." An article by David McLennan

The Politics of Climate Change | The Alfred Deakin Lecture Series | 11 June 2010
Malcolm Turnbull spoke at the Alfred Deakin Lecture Series about climate change. Watch a video of the speech, hosted on the Wheeler Centre website.

Malcolm Turnbull gives iPad the thumbs-up: News apps excellent | The Australian | 7 June 2010
"So, the iPad. Is it the messiah? Or is it just another slick device from Apple? The iPad arrives at the head of what will soon become a phalanx of similar e-readers or tablet computers." An article by Malcolm Turnbull.

Paths of Glory | Australian Story | 3 August 2009
"Australian Story was filming behind the scenes with Mr Turnbull's inner circle as the scale of the Utegate debacle became apparent." Watch a video or read a transcript of the report.

Intelligent talk | Slow TV | November 2009
"At the Media140 conference in Sydney, a relaxed Malcolm Turnbull talks to ABC RN's Fran Kelly about new media and the contemporary communications landscape. A renowned early adopter (and an internet entrepeneur), Turnbull discusses how Twitter and other platforms have affected journalism, and shape and influence the modern politician."

Malcolm Turnbull's personal homepage
View additional information on Malcolm Turnbull's personal homepage.

Malcolm Turnbull's Parliamentary Profile
View Malcolm Turnbull's Parliament of Australia profile.

Malcolm Turnbull on Twitter
View Malcolm Turnbull's twitter profile.

Malcolm Turnbull on Q&A
>>22 February 2010
>>6 August 2009
>>25 September 2008
>>31 July 2008

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