Malcolm Turnbull appears on cover of GQ magazine for power issue

MALCOLM Turnbull looks pretty suave on the cover of GQ - but his appearance could easily be taken the wrong way.

GQ Australia (on sale Monday 20 April) featuring Malcolm Turnbull on the cover.

MALCOLM Turnbull has added another magazine cover to his elegant and extensive collection with what is being dubbed a “Blue Steel” appearance in GQ Australia.

He looks a fashion plate on the front of the publication out Monday, and in the eight-page spread inside its power edition.

But such is the current political fashion, his appearance is being seen as part of a possible Turnbull ascent to the Liberal leadership and the job of Prime Minister.

The photograph of a politician in a suit has been seen as significant by some.

However, the profile was planned and delivered when the leadership was not in contention.

No stranger to publicity ... Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull pose for a Valentine’s Day feature for Sunday Style Magazine PHOTO: Ellis Parrinder

And news.com.au understands the cover photo was actually taken in 2013 for an earlier GQ story on Mr Turnbull. The Communications Minister was too busy to do a fresh shoot for this outing.

The magazine’s request for an interview was accepted before the February flare-up over Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s leadership but the chat was conducted after that. A decision was made to proceed rather than arouse speculation with a cancellation, which was sure to become known.

The leadership is discussed in the article and, according to a report in today’s The Australian, Mr Turnbull told GQ it was expected he would stand if a ballot had been called: “People would have been astonished if I hadn’t.”

But there is no suggestion from him he is in pursuit of the leadership.

Day job ... Communications Minister in action in responds during Question Time.

Mr Turnbull is quoted as saying: “Honestly, it’s this simple: I get out of bed and I am me. If people find me persuasive or offensive that’s up to them, but I am comfortable in my own skin and I honestly never ask, ‘How can I change myself to be more appealing to people?’.”

Mr Turnbull has already appeared in a string of non-political magazines, from Women’s Weekly to a Saturday newspaper glossy.

The coming GQ issue is not a political edition. Mr Turnbull is listed along with US President Barack Obama, but also rapper Kanye West, entrepreneur Richard Branson, young billionaire inventor and engineer Elon Musk, and music figure Mark Ronson.

The only other Australian is broadcaster Alan Jones, who has clashed on air with Mr Turnbull.

Watch and learn ... Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander.

Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull appears on cover of GQ magazine for power issue