Australia's new prime minister fends off sell-out accusation

[webfact]

Australia's new prime minister fends off sell-out accusation
ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The honeymoon did not last long for Malcolm Turnbull. Just days after he took over as prime minister of Australia the attacks have started, with opponents accusing him of selling his ideological soul on issues from climate change to gay marriage in order to snatch the nation's top job.

So far, opinion polls suggest the new leader is popular but there are questions about how his public image might evolve in office. There are also doubts that this self-made multimillionaire — who was once dumped as party leader — will become a unifying figure who can lead his Liberal Party to victory in next year's elections.

As prime minister, Turnbull has already shifted some of his stances on key issues. Previously, he riled the more conservative elements of his coalition by arguing for tougher action on Australia's greenhouse gas emissions — calling for polluters to pay for the carbon they emit — and advocating for marriage equality.

But after he ousted his predecessor Tony Abbott in an internal party vote Monday night, Turnbull essentially promised the more conservative junior coalition partner, the rural-based Nationals, he would keep the party line on climate change and opposing gay marriage.

Climate change appeared to be an issue Turnbull felt passionately about. When he was dumped in 2009 after 14 months as opposition leader, he defiantly told his colleagues: "I will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am."

Abbott's government last year repealed a carbon tax that had been levied for two years on the country's worst industrial polluters, and instead offered 2.55 billion Australian dollars ($1.8 billion) in taxpayer-funded incentives to encourage polluters to operate more cleanly — a policy Turnbull now says he backs.

Members of the opposition Labor Party accused Turnbull of flip-flopping for political expediency.

"Australians have been coming to understand the price that the member for Wentworth (Turnbull's electoral district) was willing to pay to achieve his long-held personal ambition of becoming prime minister," Labor climate change spokesman Mark Butler told Parliament on Wednesday.

Turnbull acknowledged that he and his colleagues had shifted policy on climate change, but said their collective commitment to reducing greenhouse gases had not changed.

"We have changed our policy. The critical question is: What is our goal? Our goal is cutting emissions. We are doing that," Turnbull told Parliament on Wednesday.

While standing by government policy, Turnbull told Parliament on Thursday that his first Cabinet, to be sworn in on Monday, would be open to change.

"Every policy of any rational, constructive government is always under review," he said.

Turnbull has given little away about his Cabinet line-up, other than to say it will include more women. But in a sign that not everyone in the government is behind him, a Cabinet document was leaked to Fairfax Media on Thursday that showed Turnbull had been the Abbott Cabinet's worst performing minister in appointing women to oversee agencies within government departments.

The Australian public may become disillusioned with Turnbull in power because he was compromised by a need to retain the support of his government's powerful right wing bloc of lawmakers, said Darren Halpin, an Australian National University political expert.

"I guess his strategy is to see how far he can stretch his policy position and keep the right on board," Halpin said.

Turnbull's fortune accumulated as a lawyer, merchant banker and venture capitalist — estimated at AU$150 million — is also regarded as a political liability that puts him out of touch with ordinary Australians. His opponents call him arrogant.

Behind closed doors, some colleagues have said he can treat them like fools. He is renowned for delivering scathing character assessments while apparently impervious to the possibility that anyone might be offended.

Nick Economou, a Monash University political scientist, suspects that Turnbull has learned from his failure as party leader that he cannot afford to alienate colleagues again.

"If you can't take your team with you, they will bring you down — this is a recurring theme now in Australian politics," Economou said.

So far, the public seems to like him. During most of his two years in power, Abbott trailed opposition leader Bill Shorten in public opinion polls. But a Roy Morgan Research poll taken the day Turnbull ousted Abbott found that 70 percent of respondents preferred Turnbull over Shorten, while 24 percent favored Shorten. It was based on a telephone survey of 1,204 voters nationwide and had a 3 percentage point margin of error.

A ReachTEL poll published on Thursday found 62 percent preferred Turnbull versus 38 percent for Shorten. That poll was based on an automated telephone survey of 3,278 people nationwide on Tuesday. It had a 1.7 percentage point margin of error.

Former Liberal leader John Hewson, who led the party in opposition for parts of the 1990s, said the government's problems lay in its policies rather than its leadership.

"It's not just a question of changing the jockeys. It's the horse that's crook," Hewson told Australian Broadcasting Corp. moments after Turnbull's election.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-18

[steven100]

just another clown in the circus ..........

[ABCer]

Rudd, Julie, Abbott, Turnbull, Libs, Labour - what's the Fk Diff ?

They all may look different. But life feels the same.

[ezzra]

Like Groucho Marx once said, I have my principles, and if you don't like them, I have others.....

[Ulic]

Positions evolve, that is politics.

[mcfish]

5 prime ministers in 5 years pfffftt.. will be 6 in6 soon

[sawadee1947]

another clown in the ring.....(where and how is your future, Ozzies?)

[steven100]

who gives a rats ass about climate change ....... !!

I would have thought jobs and the economy would have been more important !!

Sorry ... Australia , you've lost me for now anyway..

[ozyjon]

He tried to be PM so many times, i think they put him

there just to stop him sulking and whining and crying

like a little girl, there there all right now.

Who is next?

[khun custard]

"Turnbull's fortune accumulated as a lawyer, merchant banker and venture capitalist estimated at AU$150 million is also regarded as a political liability that puts him out of touch with ordinary Australians. His opponents call him arrogant."

Gosh we had some one of that general profile here a few years ago, does have have a sister so I can save getting out the crystal ball :-)

[kiwikeith]

Rudd, Julie, Abbott, Turnbull, Libs, Labour - what's the Fk Diff ?

They all may look different. But life feels the same.

Another Bankster and character assasin good mate for his NZ counterpart the silent assasin and ex merchant bankster John Key.

Now they have both countrys in asset stripping sell everything and smash you into the ground mode..

By the time they are finished both countrys will be knackered and in severe debt.

[Jonmarleesco]

'... Climate change appeared to be an issue Turnbull felt passionately about. When he was dumped in 2009 after 14 months as opposition leader, he defiantly told his colleagues: "I will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am."' That's politicians for you; the world over. Their policies are simple: stick to your principles ... until a more pragmatic one comes along.

[SGX]

I believe he will do well if he is allowed to make the changes needed. He will improve australia

The rest of the cronies should be axed .

[thaibeachlovers]

I believe he will do well if he is allowed to make the changes needed. He will improve australia

The rest of the cronies should be axed .

Can he raise the price of dirt sold to China? If not, he will not be able to improve anything as will be broke.

[gigman]

No one can heal Australia if aussies don't start talking loud and stop waiting for miracles. First of all aussie stop listening to your brain washing media telling you everyday about things not important at al changing your focus from real problem ...future for your young ones. Otherwise you are cowards thinking about about only your old generation.

[SGX]

I believe he will do well if he is allowed to make the changes needed. He will improve australia

The rest of the cronies should be axed .

Can he raise the price of dirt sold to China? If not, he will not be able to improve anything as will be broke.

Mt is not one to bend over like the rest of the yardsticks in ministry. He is a mover and shaker,if he does what i think he will do , Australia could be a good place to live again.

Im not pro Oz in anyway but i know MT and i know how he operates.

[thaibeachlovers]

I believe he will do well if he is allowed to make the changes needed. He will improve australia

The rest of the cronies should be axed .

Can he raise the price of dirt sold to China? If not, he will not be able to improve anything as will be broke.

Mt is not one to bend over like the rest of the yardsticks in ministry. He is a mover and shaker,if he does what i think he will do , Australia could be a good place to live again.

Im not pro Oz in anyway but i know MT and i know how he operates.

Sorry, but even MT will have some serious problems.

Aussie dirt isn't worth much now.

The dairy industry is broken

Car factories are closing along with all the ancillary manufacturing

There are too many people in Oz for the number of jobs available

The anti boat people scheme looks like it's in trouble

They have now decided to bomb one side in Syria when all sides are bad- a bad expensive decision.

MT better be more than just a nice rich guy if he isn't to be another PM sacked before his time is up.

[louse1953]

He tried to be PM so many times, i think they put him

there just to stop him sulking and whining and crying

like a little girl, there there all right now.

Who is next?

He waited until Abbott was unelectable and they had to come cap in hand to beg him to stand.This bloke is a cut above the other dregs in the LNP.

[SGX]

I believe he will do well if he is allowed to make the changes needed. He will improve australia

The rest of the cronies should be axed .

Can he raise the price of dirt sold to China? If not, he will not be able to improve anything as will be broke.

Mt is not one to bend over like the rest of the yardsticks in ministry. He is a mover and shaker,if he does what i think he will do , Australia could be a good place to live again.

Im not pro Oz in anyway but i know MT and i know how he operates.

Sorry, but even MT will have some serious problems.

Aussie dirt isn't worth much now.

The dairy industry is broken

Car factories are closing along with all the ancillary manufacturing

There are too many people in Oz for the number of jobs available

The anti boat people scheme looks like it's in trouble

They have now decided to bomb one side in Syria when all sides are bad- a bad expensive decision.

MT better be more than just a nice rich guy if he isn't to be another PM sacked before his time is up.

Oz realestate market booming, ( always has very strong pockets )

Iron ore players are still making money.

NZ dairy are stronger players as NZ government is true leader, as opposed to oz No strong leadership since Howard

Car industry failing yes agree another govt mess up. Labour unions pushing higher salary so forcing manufacturing industry out,

Employment has been acknowledge and the aim is to make oz the leader in asia for Technology. already addressed

Boat people only entering illegally has been stopped , again previously no true leadership there since Howard

I completly agree with Syria , OZ should stay out of it , unfortunately this is where the US agreement (circa 1960's) is forcing Australia to do this. Oz should be siding with CHina

Mt is hard ass, he is under guidance of Howard so expect Howard style ministry moving forward.