Malcolm Turnbull reveals how he saved SA’s economy in new book A Bigger Picture
In his new book, former PM Malcolm Turnbull lays bare the dysfunction of the federal Liberal Party, his battle with depression and why he was good for South Australia.
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Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says South Australia wouldn’t have a naval shipbuilding industry or a space agency if not for his vision to pursue these policies while he was leading the country.
Mr Turnbull said when he became prime minister the state was struggling with the most expensive and least reliable electricity in Australia, there was indecision over the future of shipbuilding and Holden was closing, but was now “the most cutting edge, advanced manufacturing in Australia will be happening in South Australia’’.
“Do you think if I hadn’t been prime minister you would have the naval shipbuilding industry you have in South Australia? I don’t think so,’’ Mr Turnbull said.
“(Former PM) Tony Abbott certainly wouldn’t have built those submarines in South Australia.
“It was a very strong personal vision of mine that we had to have a substantial Australian defence industry and that we had to have continuous Australian naval ship build as opposed to building the submarines in Japan, which was what Abbott was seeking to do.
“Would you have a space agency? Do you think anyone else would have established a space agency? Or an innovation and science agenda?’’
Mr Turnbull’s new book A Bigger Picture is released on Monday, and canvasses his careers in journalism, business and politics. It is scathing in parts about the behaviour of some of his colleagues in the Liberal party, particularly Mr Abbott, Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton and Finance minister Mathias Cormann.
In one passage Mr Turnbull writes: “Serving in Abbott’s government had been painful, humiliating, embarrassing all at once. I felt like I needed to take a shower some days just to wash off the indignity and taint of being part of such a shambles.’’
He also reveals a message he wrote to Mr Cormann, who backed Peter Dutton in the leadership contest that ended Mr Turnbull’s prime ministership.
“Mathias at a time when strength and loyalty were called for, you were weak and treacherous. You should be ashamed of yourself.’’
Mr Turnbull also reveals the personal toll politics can take, writing about how he sank into depression and had suicidal thoughts after being replaced by Tony Abbott as leader of the opposition in 2009.
In his diary at the time he wrote: “The answer is the pain will end at some point – suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary (we hope) problem. But frankly I am thinking about dying all the time.’’
Mr Turnbull said it was important for “people who are high profile like me to be able to describe that personal experience’’.
“What I describe in the book is how I was almost ambushed by depression, what a shock it came when I found myself in that situation and how it affected me and how I dragged myself out of it.’’
The publisher invited The Advertiser to review Mr Turnbull’s book.
