Turnbull walking fine line, risks Liberal Party expulsion

Dr Kerryn Phelps with wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps.

Malcolm Turnbull’s continuing close co-operation with Kerryn Phelps as the new member for Wentworth is fuelling deep suspicions the former prime minister is actively working against the Liberal Party.

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull walks in the rain near his home at Point Piper, Sydney. Picture: John Feder

Turnbull is treading a fine line on NSW Liberal Party rules, which threaten expulsion for “actively assisting a candidate other than” an endorsed Liberal.

A day after staunch Turnbull supporter Julia Banks resigned from the parliamentary Liberal Party, creating chaos for Scott Morrison, The Australian has confirmed Turnbull has been assisting Phelps as the new member for Wentworth. Turnbull has been in regular contact with Phelps and his former staff have helped in the transition to office.

Since resigning as leader and declaring that he was finished with politics, Turnbull said Peter Dutton had a case answer on his eligibility to sit as an MP, named a group he said were political assassins, refused to actively campaign for Liberal candidate Dave Sharma in the Wentworth by-election, has monitored a campaign to unseat Tony Abbott and embarrassed Morrison over the Israeli embassy move.

Yet Turnbull has escaped the general media condemnation that Abbott did for speaking his mind and still sits on the technical side of not breaching Liberal Party membership rules.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) embraces Liberal candidate Dave Sharma prior to his concession speech, at the Liberal Party Wentworth by-election function in Double Bay.