Turnbull takes fresh swipe at coup leader Dutton

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a fresh swipe at nemesis Peter Dutton.

Lucy and Malcolm Turnbull at Sydney airport last night. Picture: Diimex

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a fresh swipe at nemesis Peter Dutton while congratulating Scott Morrison on a “very outstanding personal victory” at Saturday’s election.

“I congratulate Scott on a very outstanding personal victory … I’m very glad that in that dreadful time in August he succeeded to the prime ministership rather than Peter Dutton,” he said.

Mr Turnbull arrived back in Australia yesterday from a holiday that coincided with the tail end of the election campaign.

Mr Dutton was behind the leadership coup that led Mr Turnbull to resign from politics, triggering a by-election in his Sydney seat of Wentworth.

Mr Turnbull congratulated newly elected Liberal MP Dave Sharma on victory at his second attempt at succeeding him in Wentworth. Mr Turnbull also ­appeared to equally congratulate independent Kerryn Phelps, who defied Wentworth’s reputation as a safe Liberal seat when she won it at a by-election last October. She conceded to Mr Sharma yesterday. “Congratulations Dave Sharma on winning Wentworth — the best part of the best country in the world! Good luck in the years ahead. And thank you Kerryn Phelps for the great courage and character you showed as our MP,” he tweeted.

Alex Turnbull attacked one of his father’s former political rivals yesterday, calling former prime minster Tony Abbott a “terrorist” and expressing delight at his election defeat in the seat of Warringah on Saturday.