Turnbull’s bitterness will see him become friendless

The former PM is doing all he can to exact his revenge.

Malcolm Turnbull was never a true blue Liberal. He was determined to achieve his ambition of becoming prime minister and it didn’t matter what road he took to get there (“Turnbull plays invisible hand”, 29/11). He achieved his goal, failed in its execution and was cast adrift by his party courtesy of a system he knew and used to his advantage; but this time he was on the receiving end.

Turnbull is a bitter man determined to get even. He will do all in his power to take revenge on those responsible for his demise.

The Liberal Party should accept Turnbull for what he has become and turf him. Perhaps Labor or the Greens would pick him up, but the Liberals don’t need him.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

Liberals have every right to be extremely disappointed with the actions of Malcolm Turnbull and the betrayal displayed by Julia Banks. Both have become wrecking balls for the party that gave them so much.

Turnbull and his acolytes did not think they were doing anything wrong when they dumped Tony Abbott. As far as Turnbull was concerned that was OK. When the shoe was on the other foot he displayed the biggest dummy spit that we have seen since Mark Latham.

As for Banks, she is going to wake up one day soon and wonder why she acted as she did. She will have lost many supporters who backed her election. The adage when the going gets tough the tough get going definitely does not apply to Banks. Then to rub salt into the wound, she has paraded herself with independents as if they were the ones who helped her become an MP.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Malcolm Turnbull cut a forlorn figure on the front page of The Australian; no wonder (29/11). Not content with shafting Peter King, Brendan Nelson and Tony Abbott in his quest for the top job, in a fit of pique he has now taken a wrecking ball to the Liberal Party. He must be running out of mates.

John Patterson, Byron Bay, NSW

Why should Malcolm Turnbull evade expulsion from the Liberal Party when he is actively working against it? According to The Australian, Turnbull has been in regular contact with Kerryn Phelps who played a key role in counselling Julia Banks before her defection. If that isn’t reason enough to kick him out, what is? This bloke is public enemy number one.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Julia Banks’s desertion and betrayal of those who worked so hard to get her elected ought not be celebrated by any who aspire to lead our nation. Our leaders ought to aspire to higher ideals.

Bill Shorten would do well to join the Prime Minister in distancing himself from such duplicity and disrespect for the democratic process.

If trust is to be restored in our political leadership, such leadership must show a greater regard for the ideals of self-abnegation and loyalty. In times of crisis, these are the traits our leaders call for. They ought to be sure that they are the characteristics that define them in Canberra.

David Cook, Drummoyne, NSW

It is disheartening to observe how many Liberal MPs are willing to sacrifice the hard work of their colleagues to satisfy their sense of personal grievance or thwarted ambition. The claims of defence of women’s rights and other issues are unconvincing when the course of events are examined. Sometimes it is just a matter of not being good enough for the job.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

There is now an expectation that politicians should clean up the mess (“Liberal defector parties as volunteers feel betrayed”, 29/11). PMs coming and going, and MPs switching sides to suit themselves, undermines stable government. If politicians wish to change parties or become independents they ought to resign, and then recontest the vacant seat in order to keep faith with the electors who chose them because of their original party affiliation.

And no public funding should be made available for this, other than for the administration of the new election. As for PMs, once elected, they should stay, barring a successful vote of no confidence. And for good measure, it is time to extend parliamentary terms from three to four years and make them fixed terms to avoid the endless speculation and political game playing.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA