A Bigger Picture: Malcolm Turnbull rips into Peter Dutton on The Project

No former colleague of Malcolm Turnbull’s has been spared. Tonight, the former prime minister lashed out at Peter Dutton with a bold remark about his intelligence … or lack thereof.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pulled no punches on The Project Tuesday night.

Continuing his scathing press-run ahead of the release of his memoir, the former leader quipped that he “over-estimated Peter Dutton’s intelligence” when asked of the home affairs minister’s role in the leadership spill that spelled the end of his political career.

It comes just hours after a fiery back-and-forth erupted between he and Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff Peta Credlin, the kindling of which was Turnbull labelling her relationship with Mr Abbott “bizarre” – a criticism extended in the pages of his scandalous new book.

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While promoting A Bigger Picture, the damning tell-all which promises to lift the lid on the private lives and political power plays of his former colleagues, Turnbull didn’t miss a beat when asked how he didn’t realise Dutton was contemplating a leadership challenge until it was too late.

“You were warned not to trust anyone, and Peter Dutton is a key example of that,” panellist posed, adding: “You said you didn't see him coming until right at the end. What made you underestimate him?”

Without hesitation, Turnbull responded; “Well, I probably over-estimated his intelligence.”

Malcolm Turnbull didn’t pull any punches on The Project Tuesday night. Picture: Channel 10.

He continued, labelling Dutton “delusional” and the prospect of him as leader “tragic”.

“It never occurred to me that he would be so delusional as to think that changing leader would advance our electoral prospects, let alone changing the leadership to him.

“You know, if Dutton, by some tragic circumstance, had become leader of the Liberal Party in that terrible coup week in August 2018, I think the government would have fallen within the following week, and not even Bill Shorten could have lost the following election,” he said, a sly dig at the former Labour leader.

“I was astonished that (Dutton) was doing that. He basically allowed himself to be used by people that wanted to destroy the government, and had he been elected leader, he undoubtedly would have been, which is why when my government was effectively blown up by Dutton and Cormann, particularly Cormann, I did everything I could to ensure that Morrison succeeded me, rather than Dutton,” he said, prompting Waleed Aly to weigh in.

Waleed Aly and Malcolm Turnbull on The Project. Picture: Channel 10.

“But wouldn't Dutton argue, though, that you were toxic in Queensland and he needed to blow the whole thing up? He did and Morrison got in – and that was just one possible outcome and it turned out that is what saved the election? Wouldn't he say that he was right all along?”

“He could say that,” Turnbull began.

“That's like leaping out of a speeding car at 100mph and then, if by some miracle you land on your feet and don't break your neck, you say, gosh, that was a brilliant move.”

Earlier in the interview, when asked by Carrie Bickmore why Peta Credlin “dislikes him so much” in reference to her calling him a “reprehensible human being,” he said:

“That is one of the nicest things she has ever said about me, actually!”

Carrie Bickmore quizzed the former prime minister on his clash with Peta Credlin. Picture: Channel 10.

“You would have to ask her. But she knows – she and Abbott destroyed their own government and then spent nearly three years trying to destroy mine,” he continued.

“So they're very good at destruction. It is a bizarre relationship. I've never seen a leader more dominated by another person than Abbott was by Credlin. It's quite extraordinary … She was basically running the government.

“Everyone knew that at the time and that was why so many people were trying to persuade Abbott to move her out of that role,” he concluded, to which Carrie replied with a laugh: “I think we know now why she feels that way!”

On Tuesday, Credlin told The Australian she found Mr Turnbull’s “highly personal attacks to be unedifying”.

“There is a lot I could say in relation to Mr Turnbull’s conduct in politics. However, while I find the man absolutely lacking in character and his highly personal attacks to be unedifying, I respect the office he once held, and the great party he once led, to add further to his commentary,” said Credlin, who is now a host at Sky News.

The Project airs Monday – Friday at 6.30 on Ten.