Rita Panahi: Malcolm Turnbull’s sick theory marks new low in vengeful plot against those who knifed him

Driven by hate against those who knifed him, Malcolm Turnbull plumbed new lows by airing a sick suicide theory that belongs in the nastiest recesses of Twitter.

Just when you thought no former prime minister could possibly tarnish their legacy more than Kevin Rudd or indulge in loopier theories, along comes Malcolm Bligh Turnbull.

The former PM plumbed new lows on Tuesday by airing on the public broadcaster a sick theory that belongs in the deepest, nastiest recesses of Twitter.

In doing so, he has thoroughly disgraced himself and added to the insane media witch-hunt that has corrupted what should be apolitical; seeking justice for victims and changing the culture of Parliament House.

Driven by a desire for vengeance against those who knifed him, Turnbull recklessly floated the notion a women who accused a current minister of raping her 32 years ago did not really die of suicide.

“We don’t know for sure that she took her own life. We know for sure that she’s dead, and there needs to be an inquest,” he said on ABC Radio National. He also spoke about why he believed the timing of the suicide was “counterintuitive”.

Malcolm Turnbull is driven by hate and a desire for vengeance against those who knifed him

Turnbull never misses an opportunity to heap scorn on the Morrison government but even by his standards, this is a new low.

Is he accusing a minister or those connected to him of killing a woman? What other conclusion can be drawn from his utterly unhinged commentary on the matter?

The woman whose case won’t be pursued by the NSW police due to “insufficient evidence” had a history of mental health issues and took her own life last year. It has been reported she had made multiple suicide attempts before her tragic death in June 2020.

And yet, Turnbull used his platform on the ABC to give credence to a demented conspiracy theory; that her death wasn’t a suicide.

Turnbull has also said the accused “owes it to his colleagues and the country to step out”. What a contrast to Turnbull’s attitude to other accusations that never proceeded to court including the one against former opposition leader Bill Shorten.

No one in the media or in parliament named Shorten or put pressure on him to identify himself or step down while the police investigated the matter.

Only when Victoria Police concluded there was no case to answer did Shorten identify himself and got sympathetic coverage for the ordeal he endured.

Issues surrounding sexual assault and workplace culture should not become politicised or devolve into a partisan media witch-hunt.

Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist

@RitaPanahi