Malcolm Turnbull at risk of becoming ‘miserable ghost’ after latest political intervention

Malcolm Turnbull will become one of the “miserable ghosts” he’s railed against since being ousted as PM if he continues to make interventions into politics, experts and Liberal sources say.

Malcolm Turnbull is at risk of becoming one of the “miserable ghosts” he’s railed against since being ousted as prime minister if he continues to make extraordinary interventions into federal politics.

The former prime minister rejected the moniker today that he has previously used to describe Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd.

But Mr Turnbull’s push to stop the NSW Liberal state executive from saving Liberal firebrand Craig Kelly from a preselection battle — which he did via a radio interview, Twitter and Facebook posts and a doorstop interview with reporters outside his Sydney home — has drawn the ire of his former colleagues and prompted political experts to warn he’s “doing an Abbott or worse”.

“I suppose the disappointing thing is … ScoMo has always been exceptionally loyal to him,” one Liberal MP told News Corp today.

“You wouldn’t see John Howard do that, put it that way.”

The MP added: “There’s a lot of people in the party room who supported him. I would say he’s not thinking about them when he speaks out.”

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Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke to the media as he left his residence in Point Piper, Sydney today. Picture: AAP/Dean Lewins

Mr Turnbull’s intervention was also described as “not overly helpful” by Attorney-General Christian Porter when he was asked about it on ABC radio today.

“The only thing that makes it more unhelpful is me talking about it for too long,” Mr Porter said, adding that he wasn’t interested in “getting into personalities” when parliament was dealing with encryption laws designed to target terror suspects this week.

Other senior frontbenchers Mathias Cormann and Simon Birmingham refused to be drawn on the matter beyond noting Mr Turnbull was “entitled to his views”.

But Griffith University political scientist Paul Williams said voters will likely start to see Mr Turnbull as a “wrecker” if he continues to speak out, which will be damaging both for the former prime minister’s legacy and for the Morrison Government.

Dr Williams said the kind interpretation of Mr Turnbull’s call for preselections to go ahead as usual was that he was simply “trying to remind MPs that due process should be followed”.

“The unkind view is that he’s doing an Abbott or worse,” Dr Williams said, noting that Mr Turnbull was “more overt” in his actions to sway the party.

“He’s doing what he and his faction have accused Tony Abbott of for a long time,” he said.

“Not everyone will see him as a wrecker. But for the general electorate, they’ll start to see him as a wrecker.

“A lot will come to the conclusion that Malcolm Turnbull is not doing Scott Morrison or the government any favours.”

Turnbull has annoyed the Liberals since quitting politics and sparking a by-election at Wentworth. Picture: AAP/Dean Lewins

A Liberal source said ScoMo was always loyal to Turnbull. Picture: Gary Ramage

The Morrison Government — already battling to win back public support in the wake of the August leadership spill and ongoing chaos including Julia Banks’ defection last week — will be further “stained with disunity” if Mr Turnbull continues to weigh in.

Australian National University political expert Jill Sheppard told News Corp Mr Turnbull’s intervention wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in the Liberal Party.

“Turnbull has never shrunk from expressing his disdain for internal party machinations. He is not a creature of the party, and at times like this it shows clearly,” she said.

“This represents the kind of conflict between party branches and parliamentary leaders that are only going to become more bitter as party memberships decline and internal organisers become even stronger.

“Party headquarters will find it increasingly easy to railroad the wishes of local party members.

“Unpopular local members will be protected by head offices, but have to deal with local members who resent that protection.”

Earlier today, before it emerged the NSW Liberal state executive would spare Mr Kelly a preselection battle against Mr Turnbull’s wishes, the former prime minister this morning spoke to ABC radio to argue his case — and in the process called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to call an early election.

Asked why his intervention wasn’t being a ‘miserable ghost’, Mr Turnbull said: “Well, for a start I’m not in the parliament. I mean both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott after they ceased to be prime minister stayed in the parliament and did everything they could to overthrow their successor.”

“I’ve left the parliament. I’m not a threat to anyone. I’m not a threat to Scott Morrison or anyone. I’m not even eligible. I’m out.

“But I am an Australian citizen. I’m a member of the Liberal Party. I’m entitled to express my views.”

Liberal member for Hughes Craig Kelly in the House of Representatives after Turnbull made an extraordinary intervention on the election timing and preselection for him. Picture: Gary Ramage

On the subject of the election timing, which Mr Morrison last week essentially set for May 2019, Mr Turnbull said: “My view is that it would be manifestly in the best interests and prospects of the Morrison Government to go to the polls as soon as it can after the Summer break.”

“My intention and Scott’s intention for that matter, prior to my being removed as Prime Minister, was to go to the polls on March 2. That would be exactly three before the New South Wales’ state election.

“Morrison has got to judge the right timing for an election. But … there is a real concern in New South Wales Liberal circles that a very good, outstanding government led by Gladys Berejiklian is going to have its prospects of success diminished because of the brand damage to the Liberal Party caused by the leadership change in August.”