Take your own advice, Malcolm: Nick Greiner slams Malcolm Turnbull’s praise for Liberal turncoat Julia Banks

Nick Greiner says Malcolm Turnbull should follow his own advice about how former PMs should behave after Turnbull lauded Julia Banks.

Then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull visits the newly elected member for Chisholm Julia Banks in Oakleigh in 2016. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Federal Liberal Party president Nick Greiner has slammed Malcolm Turnbull for praising independent MP Julia Banks.

Mr Greiner, a former NSW premier who was Mr Turnbull’s choice for the role, said Mr Turnbull should “follow his own advice” about the behaviour of former prime ministers.

This morning, Mr Turnbull has said Liberal turncoat Banks was an “outstanding parliamentarian”, declaring voters in the Victorian electorate of Flinders would have a “stimulating contest” at the next election.

When asked about Mr Turnbull’s comments on Ms Banks, Mr Greiner told the ABC: “I hate to tell you and Malcolm that I haven’t heard (his comments) and I think Malcolm would do his best to follow his own advice about the best behaviour of former prime ministers”.

Mr Turnbull called Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott “miserable ghosts” for remaining in parliament and making political commentary after the were dumped as prime minister.

On Ms Banks, the former prime minister said he respects Ms Banks’ decision to leave the Liberal Party because of unsubstantiated allegations she was bullied in the leadership contest.

Ms Banks announced last week she would also leave her Melbourne seat of Chisholm and run against Health Minister Greg Hunt in the Flinders electorate on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

“Julia Banks is an outstanding parliamentarian. She came to parliament with life experience as a lawyer and in the business world. She is really an outstanding representative,” Mr Turnbull said.

“She has explained why she left the Liberal Party and she has done so in her own words and I respect the decision she has taken.

“I believe the people of Flinders will have a very stimulating contest between her and Greg Hunt and no doubt the other candidates.”

Mr Turnbull said Scott Morrison was “in with a chance” to beat Bill Shorten at the next election but added it was a “matter for the people”.

“Every election can be won and all Australian elections are close,” Mr Turnbull said.

“I wish him all the best. Australian elections are close and they are two horse races. So Australian elections are close. Of Course he is in with a chance. But that is a matter for the people.”

.@TurnbullMalcolm: Every election can be won and all Australian elections are close. It's a two-horse race. He's in with a chance, but it's a matter for the people.

I must remind you, I'm not retired, but I'm retired from politics.

MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #AMagenda pic.twitter.com/knK2grd8KH

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 4, 2019

Appearing on last night’s Q&A Ms Banks refused to name the male bullies in her old party.

“I’m not going to name the bullies because that will just give the Liberal Party opportunity to start talking about themselves,” she said.

Ms Banks also spoke of how she had experienced an “entrenched anti-women culture” within the Liberal Party since her preselection in 2015.

Our questioner Kieran Simpson wants names named. @MakeMayoMatter and @juliabanksmp discuss the parliament's problem with women #QandA pic.twitter.com/c0pKGtyXf7

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 4, 2019

She was also asked by host Tony Jones whether supporters of Scott Morrison went to her asking her to vote for Peter Dutton during an earlier spill motion to destabilise Mr Turnbull.

She replied: “I couldn’t possibly comment on that because from my perspective”.

Mr Turnbull’s glowing praise for Ms Banks comes after it was revealed last week that his son Alex was “involved” in her campaign to unseat the health minister.

“I’m involved, I’ll leave it at that,” he said.

But he denied his father was also involved.