Malcolm Turnbull's 40 years in public life: Spycatcher, republican and PM

[Mighty AU]

https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/226043/b58bc9af-0e8d-408a-be3e-fdf74ec1ef8a/EAE50DF9-94A6-4BCA-BA82-092622D0CAE8.jpeg

The political fortunes of Australia's wealthiest parliamentarian have turned for the worst.

Almost a decade to the day since Malcolm Turnbull first secured the Liberal Party leadership, his colleagues have again removed him, and again the stated reason is climate policy.

It's a dramatic political end for a high achiever who has spent 40 years in the public spotlight.

After graduating from Oxford University in the UK, the one-time journalist returned to Australia where he worked as a barrister for prominent figures such as Channel 9 owner Kerry Packer.

Then in 1986 the brash young lawyer burst onto the world stage by taking on — and beating — the UK government while acting for retired MI5 spy Peter Wright in the famous "Spycatcher" case.

In 1993 Labor prime minister Paul Keating appointed him as chair of the Republican Advisory Committee and he led the ultimately unsuccessful push for an Australian head of state, bringing him head-to-head with his eventual political nemesis, and staunch monarchist, Tony Abbott.

There were several early attempts at entering Parliament, and even brief flirtations with the Labor side, before Mr Turnbull ultimately secured the safe federal Liberal seat of Wentworth at the 2004 election after an ugly preselection stoush.

During John Howard's final term as prime minister, Mr Turnbull entered Cabinet as minister for environment and water, and his first exposure to the treacherous policy area of climate change.

Following Mr Howard's defeat in 2007, Brendan Nelson beat Mr Turnbull for the Liberal leadership, but poor polling and a failure to dent Kevin Rudd's popularity meant his days were numbered.

On September 16, 2008, Mr Turnbull successfully challenged Mr Nelson and began his first stint as Liberal Party leader.

...

Read more at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-24/malcolm-turnbull-40-years-in-public-life-spycatcher-to-pm/10144596