Malcolm in the middle
Australia's most impressive curriculum vitae has just been embellished with yet another blue ribbon entry. Malcolm Turnbull, the former Rhodes Scholar, personal advisor to Kerry Packer, Spycatcher barrister, millionaire banker and head of the Australian Republican movement, has now become the leader of the Liberal Party. That puts him one successful election away from the job he has long coveted: prime minister. I suppose it could even put him one successful referendum away from a post he would love to see created: Australian president.
With the collapse of Lehman Brothers, this has not been a good week for self-styled "Masters of the Universe". Turnbull has bucked the trend.
Now the 2010 election is starting to look interesting. Kevin Rudd is facing a plausible prime minister in waiting, at a time when economic issues will be front and centre.
A few words about the man that Turnbull defeated, Brendan Nelson, who called a speedy leadership election in the hope of throwing his rival off balance. Nelson always looked like a hostage to events rather than a commanding figure who could shape them. Nowhere was this more evident than in his response to Peter Costello's recent vacillations over whether he wanted the leadership. During that period of uncertainty, Nelson came across as ludicrously submissive and chronically indecisive.
Like Costello, Nelson is probably a politician for a different age. He is shy and error-prone, a losing combination in a fast-paced political culture which requires snap policy judgments and high personal exposure. The former earring-wearing doctor might have boosted his public image by emphasising his love of guitars and motorbikes. Instead, he came across as a rebel without a personality.
I saw him once on the Mike Carlton radio show being handed a guitar and offered the chance to play. But he awkwardly refused. These days, of course, politicians have to be much more availing. To win elections, you have to lose your inhibitions. Nelson remained resolutely buttoned-down.
Turnbull has problems. Within sections of his party, he is regarded as an over-ambitious elitist, with dangerously subversive views on the future of the monarchy. He is the richest parliamentarian who lives in Australia's richest street in Australia's richest constituency, Wentworth, which takes in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. No wonder he emphasised his humble roots in his first speech as leader, because Labor will seek to portray him as haughty and out of touch.
What this does mean is that Australia's two main parties are now headed by the country's most well credentialed politicians. Two avowed Republicans are also in charge, which opens the way for a measure of cross-party consensus on the question of a future Australian Republic.
2010 is now a real contest. Can Turnbull win over the country? And can he win over his party?
I'm 
Comments
or to comment.