Liberals in Power documentary uncovers party’s stance on Malcolm Turnbull

A shocked Barnaby Joyce lashed then-PM Malcolm Turnbull for announcing a “bonk ban” for ministers in his government, a new Sky News Australia documentary, Liberals in Power, has uncovered.

A shocked Barnaby Joyce said to himself, “what’s this dipstick up to?” when he first saw then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing a “bonk ban” for ministers in his government, according to a new Sky News Australia documentary, Liberals in Power.

The second and final part of the series, airing Tuesday night, presents never before seen reactions from those closest to the events that saw Turnbull publicly slam Joyce for his relationship with media adviser Vikki Campion.

According to Chris Kenny, Sky News presenter and host of the documentary, the scandal was “manna from Heaven” for Labor, who brutally used the revelations against the government as they mounted a broader campaign accusing the Coalition of having a “woman problem”.

“I went straight around and confronted him about it,” Joyce recalls of the day Turnbull introduced the new policy, which barred cabinet ministers whether married or single from having relationships with staffers in their office.

Malcolm Turnbull has been slammed by Liberals for some of his decisions during his leadership. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The bonk ban, says Joyce, was an effort to force him out of government.

“And I remember saying to Peter Dutton look, the moment I’m going as deputy prime minister Malcolm Turnbull will be gone in three months.

“It sounds like an incredibly egotistical statement, but when he lost me he lost.”

Joyce’s prediction was not far off the mark.

The “bonk ban” was imposed in February 2018, and Turnbull would be rolled by his party room in August of that same year.

Kenny, who also served as Malcolm Turnbull’s chief of staff in opposition, also dives into the treacherousness of the now former prime minister and his efforts to topple Tony Abbott.

Even some of Turnbull’s former backers concede that backing the former Wentworth MP into the leadership was a mistake.

Former deputy Prime Minister and member for New England Barnaby Joyce has lashed Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Queensland senator James McGrath, who helped organise Turnbull’s push to lead the party room, told Kenny, “I do regret backing Malcolm Turnbull and I feel sorry for Malcolm Turnbull that he fails to understand that the trust that was put in him by the party membership, not just in Queensland, but across Australia.

“He has actually returned that trust with his continuing acts of disloyalty to the party and more importantly to the members of the party.”

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds said Turnbull’s contribution to the Liberal Party was “Underwhelming.”

“And he certainly didn’t fulfil his potential as Prime Minister,” she said.

Asked if he thought Turnbull was being treacherous in organising party room spills against Tony Abbott in 2015, fellow former prime minister Scott Morrison said, “If you challenge a leader, obviously you’re not being supportive of them.”

Originally published as Liberals in Power documentary uncovers party’s stance on Malcolm Turnbull