Wentworth by-election: How Alex Turnbull tried to avenge dad Malcolm’s dumping
MALCOLM Turnbull may have stayed away from the Wentworth campaign, but his Alex has done his best to blow up the Liberals’ chances in today’s crucial by-election.
NSW
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MALCOLM Turnbull may have stayed away from the Wentworth campaign, but his Alex has done his best to blow up the Liberals’ chances in today’s crucial by-election.
During his dad’s time in the top job the Singapore-based hedge fund manager kept a low profile but has spent the past eight weeks seeking revenge for his Dad’s demise and calling for an overhaul of Liberal Party policies claiming it was captured by extremists.
Shortly after his dad was dumped, the self-described environmentalist promised his social media followers he would be “saying what I think a bit more often from now on” implying he had been silenced during his father’s prime ministership.
Turnbull junior has lived up to his promise, retweeting articles critical of the Coalition and calling for a series of policies his father rallied against including a federal version of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and stronger action on climate change.
So realistically if its tight, and the preference flows are as they are its better to vote for @drkerrynphelps if you want greater certainty of the Liberals not retaining the seat. However, if you want to virtue signal and not win, do your thing @Greens
— Alex Turnbull (@alexbhturnbull) October 17, 2018
I recorded this message for the people of Wentworth. We need to send a message on climate change. This time, don’t give the Liberals your vote. https://t.co/4Q3l2RIgpO #auspol #WentworthVotes
— Alex Turnbull (@alexbhturnbull) October 11, 2018
While his Dad backed winning candidate Dave Sharma in the Liberal Party’s preselection race, Alex called for donations to Labor’s candidate Tim Murray and Labor voters to be “sharp about your preferencing”.
As the polls tightened and support for the Liberals crashed in recent weeks, Mr Turnbull’s son appeared to switch his support to independent candidate Kerryn Phelps.
“So if you want to send a message in Wentworth vote for Karen and if you are a Greens voter please ignore your party’s guide. They are not the most strategic or organized bunch and preferencing Labor is likely a dead end,” he tweeted.
A week out from polling day, Alex posted a video message on Facebook again urging voters in his father’s former seat to abandon the Liberal Party over its climate change policy.
“The Liberal party has been taken over . . by extremists on the hard right … who aren’t particularly motivated to serve the general public,” Turnbull Jr said.
“Don’t vote for the Liberal Party in the Wentworth by-election … this time, don’t give the Liberals your vote.”
In the final week, Turnbull junior also went on ABC radio to list his top five “crazies” in the Liberal Party, describing former prime minister Tony Abbott - “a singularly destructive human being”.
He has denied that he is acting as a proxy for his father - who has mostly stayed quiet during the campaign - saying the former PM was “dealing” with his outbursts.
“He’s out of office (and) I’m a private citizen, we can both do as we please,” he told the ABC.
Malcolm Turnbull is expected spend polling day in Singapore with wife Lucy, son Alex, his wife Yvonne and their two children before returning to Sydney on Monday.