It’s green for go as Malcolm Turnbull treats reformers as adults

Last month, Tony Abbott addressed the National Reform Summit by video link from the Torres Strait. At the end of the conference, there was general agreement about what Australia needed to do to lift the economy but there was almost a sullen silence in regard to the then prime minister.

Yesterday, at the end of a three-hour reprise of the previous summit, business, industry, community groups and even the unions were literally queuing to gush about Malcolm Turnbull’s “green light” for reform.

Although “the meeting was not a summit”, according to the new Prime Minister, and was essentially a condensed version of previous discussion with the same topics, vested interests and disagreements, the outcome was seen as dramatically different.

Not that there was any concrete decision or “doable” proposal from the discussions, just that a range of national sector leaders emerged enthusiastic and energised with all proposals still “on the table”.

Turnbull’s successful framing of the meeting was based on his new iron law of refusing to play the rule-in or rule-out game, the “gotcha debate” or assuming there is a right answer.

His approach in the meeting, which he chaired, was Socratic, seeking answers to questions in a way that immediately broke down the informally formal approach from the non-government representatives.

Many contentious issues were discussed without rancour, some contentious issues were not discussed and there was acceptance of those that couldn’t be agreed.

At the end, where there was no concrete proposal, there was an enthusiasm or acceptance from all sides simply because Turnbull had talked and listened.

Even the ACTU had to attend and, at worst, agree to disagree on raising the GST and doing away with penalty rates because the offer to sit at the table with the Prime Minister could not be declined.

On the day Abbott lamented his brave, poorly sold reforms and budget measures failed to get more support from the business groups who demanded such strong action, Turnbull had buckets of it.

Of course, this is still in Turnbull’s leadership honeymoon period selling the “government’s part in listening” and options on the table are not yet budget proposals or election promises seeking a mandate — the atmosphere may change.

But for now, Turnbull’s got a green light.