Malcolm Turnbull’s response to Labor’s wealth attack has been praised. Is he untouchable?

AUSTRALIANS praised Malcolm Turnbull after his big smackdown yesterday. Is he the one tall poppy who can’t be cut down?

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

FOR the last few days, Labor has been trying to paint Malcolm Turnbull as a Prime Minister who’s out of touch. As a man who can’t possibly relate to the voting public, because of his immense wealth.

We already knew he lived in a multi-million dollar mansion in Sydney’s east. But this week it emerged he has money stashed in the Cayman Islands, a renowned tax haven for the rich.

Following the revelations, Mr Turnbull hit back refusing to apologise for his success and accused the opposition of trying to take Parliament down the “avenue of the politics of envy”.

“I don’t believe my wealth, or frankly most people’s wealth, is entirely a function of hard work,” Mr Turnbull said. “Of course hard work is important but, you know, there are taxi drivers that work harder than I ever have and they don’t have much money.

“There are cleaners that worked harder than I ever have or you ever have and they don’t have much money.

“This country is built upon hard work, people having a go and enterprise.

“Some of us will be more successful than others, some of us are fortunate in the turn of business, some of us are fortunate in the intellect we inherit from our parents.”

Yet rather than take him down, tall poppy syndrome-style, as we Aussies tend to do, it seems we have applauded him for his response and his achievements.

The comments on news.com.au’s Facebook page show the majority not only liked Mr Turnbull’s response but also congratulated him on his success.

Allan Botros wrote: “ That was well said with honour and dignity, honest but humble. This is a prime minister that we all should be very proud of. And a person who has worked hard for what he and his family have is a person that should be respected. Well done Mr Turnbull.”

Darren Bowden wrote: “I love Malcolm Turnbull. Good onya mate for making a few dollars.”

While Jeanette Hosking wrote: “Good on you Malcolm, many smear me for having what I have and not having to work hard but that’s what we get for wise investments.”

And James Scott said that despite being a “leftie” he thought “Malcolm is great. If it’s got to be a liberal government, be glad he’s at the helm”.

So does this mean Mr Turnbull can do no wrong?

Dr Matthew Bambling, a clinical psychologist from the University of Queensland, told news.com.au that while Australians might be in love with our new PM at the moment, it was only a matter of time before tall poppy syndrome would kick in.

“Australians love change,” he explained. “And because we have such a personality driven political system rather than perhaps one which is able to clearly articulate policy visions, the expectation is that if you get the right person then everything will be OK.

“That’s a long way to fall. And no one can have all the answers.”

So what is tall poppy syndrome and is it uniquely Australian?

“Tall poppy syndrome is not uniquely Australian but it is quite pronounced here,” Dr Bambling explained. “I think it’s based in this Australian ideal of equality. And probably to do with our cultural heritage, coming from England either as convicts or free settlers. Class distinction was probably frowned upon in the early days of Australia, even though it was evident, people didn’t like it much.

“In Australia there is this implied resentment or rebelliousness towards authority figures and incredibly well off people and this idea that they don’t really get the kind of struggle of the working class man.

“What we don’t like is people who can’t relate to our situation. That’s where it comes down to the Prime Minister’s communication skills. Can they engage and relate to the Australian public? And if they can it goes a long way to doing that.

“Bob Hawke was very good at it, John Howard wasn’t bad at it. Hence their longevity.

“And Kevin Rudd. While he wasn’t liked by his own party much, he was liked by the electorate because I think he had that self-made man sort of thing about him as well which Australians seem to like. It’s OK if you’re rich as long as you have worked to get it.”

So will Malcolm Turnbull survive the tall poppy chop?

“I think he is someone definitely a good communicator but at the same time it’s still early days,” Dr Bambling said. “There will be disappointments or inconsistencies or things people will decide they don’t like about him and that will be the test.

“At the moment he is still basking in the glow of being new, people have high expectations. One might argue that no one person can meet those expectations because there are just too many complexities in the role - you can’t make everyone happy. So at some point there will be a bit of tarnish on the shiny armour.

“At the same time too, where Malcolm Turnbull is different to Tony Abbott is that perhaps he is more of a skilled communicator. And that can get him a long way, but just how far is the question.”

Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull’s response to Labor’s wealth attack has been praised. Is he untouchable?