Alex Turnbull responds to claims he’s doing his father’s dirty work

THE son of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has responded to claims he’s doing his dad’s dirty work by campaigning against the Liberal Party.

THE son of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has responded to claims that he’s acting as a proxy for his father by controversially campaigning against the Liberal Party.

Speaking to Patricia Karvelas on ABC’s RN Drive this afternoon, Alex Turnbull said he was “absolutely not” doing Malcolm Turnbull’s dirty work. He also said he had not sought approval from his father for campaigning against the Liberals.

“I’ve not sought it and I wouldn’t get it if I asked,” he said.

“It’s not worth going over.

“He’s out of office (and) I’m a private citizen, we can both do as we please”.

Alex’s latest comments come after he last week posted a video online telling voters in the upcoming by-election for the seat of Wentworth, which was vacated by the former PM, to vote against his father’s party in part due to concerns about the party’s lack of action on climate change.

“We’re going to have an election within 12 months anyway, so if you want to send a signal as to which way the Liberal Party is going, and your displeasure with where it’s going, then this is your opportunity,” Alex said in the video.

“Don’t vote for the Liberal Party in the Wentworth by-election.

“If you want to pull the Liberal Party back from the brink it’s the one clear signal you can send.”

Alex today said he didn’t speak out when his father was running the country because he thought the government was “making pretty good head way and it wouldn’t have been constructive at all”.

“(Malcolm Turnbull) was a great PM particularly in the context of dealing with his colleagues and I don’t think what I say or do has any bearing upon how people would reasonably take a view on that,” he said.

Alex Turnbull, son of former PM Malcolm Turnbull, has released a video on YouTube where he declares voters should not vote liberal in the seat of Wentworth

Alex told the ABC he had not sought approval from his father to campaign against the Liberals.

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York. Picture: Angus Mordant.

The Liberals need to retain the seat of Wentworth, previously held by Malcolm Turnbull, at the October 20 by-election to hold onto their one-seat majority in parliament.

So far, more than 5000 Wentworth voters have cast early votes with 11,000 applying for a postal vote, as Alex continues to urge Wentworth voters not to back the Liberal Party.

The son of the former Liberal leader is backing Labor candidate Tim Murray in the crucial by-election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he disagreed with Alex.

“His father disagrees with him too,” Mr Morrison told the ABC on Friday. “His father Malcolm Turnbull is heavily supporting Dave Sharma, the only Liberal candidate running for Wentworth.”

Alex said Wentworth by-election candidate Tim Murray was “an old friend” of his and that the Labor party “need more people like him”. Picture: Dean Lewins.

Dave Sharma is contesting the seat of Wentworth for the Liberal Party. Picture: Brendan Esposito/AAP

Mr Morrison said the former prime minister had recently been silent on the issue as he had bowed out of public life.

Dr Phelps likened the Liberal Party to a sick patient “heading down a disastrous path”.

“Alex Turnbull is absolutely correct in saying that voters should vote for someone other than the Liberal Party in the Wentworth by-election and consider it an intervention,” Dr Phelps said.

Kerryn Phelps is seen during the official announcement of her candidacy for the federal seat of Wentworth in Sydney, Sunday, September 16, 2018. Picture: AAP/Brendan Esposito.

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said Alex was campaigning for instability, as the coalition will lose its one seat majority in the House of Representatives if defeated in Wentworth.

“I know Alex, he’s a great bloke, but unfortunately on this occasion he has chosen to campaign against the Liberal party,” Mr Pyne told Channel 9 on Friday.

“Which means a campaign for instability and we don’t need instability right now, we need stability.” Malcolm Turnbull resigned from his seat after losing the Liberal leadership at the end of August, sparking the by-election.

Alex today told the ABC he was determined to send a message to the Liberal Party about its stance on energy and climate policy.

“What I am very motivated by is to point out the unreality and the absurdity that we’re still having this debate when technologyhas made it possible to just get on with it,” he said.

“My concern is I see a similar pattern where culture wars are taking precedence over good, sober, sensible policy,” he said.

“That’s why I’ve come out so strongly because when I speak to my friends in the states, they say ‘wow, I wish I’d spoken upearlier’, because we’re stuck with this now.”

Alex, who lives in Singapore, said he wouldn’t consider representing the Liberal Party as it now stands.

But he would consider the idea if the party underwent reform.

“It’s something I would consider if basic things, like ensuring the National Party isn’t infiltrated by Nazis, was solved,” he said.

“There’s some basic things which need to happen I think for that party to be acceptable to a lot of normal, acceptable people.”

- With AAP

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