Due to address the Washington Harvard Club at 8am Friday (AEST),Turnbull is expected to say that the Liberal Party had once been a broad church of liberal and conservative traditions,but since his “deposition in 2018”,moderate voices had become increasingly marginalised,“especially on the toxically controversial issue of climate change where the political right,supported by[Rupert] Murdoch’s media,have opposed effective action for many years”.
In a copy of the speech provided toThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age,he notes there is also growing grassroots support for small-l liberal independent candidates who are typically progressive on climate and social issues and are now threatening his former colleagues in once-safe Liberal seats.
“In many respects this may be the most interesting part of the whole election,because if more of these ‘teal’ independents win,it will mean the capture of the Liberal Party will be thwarted by direct,democratic action from voters,” Turnbull will tell the club,whose members are made up of Harvard University alumni and associates.
While Turnbull spruiks the benefits to democracy of the rise of the independents,he does not explicitly instruct people to vote for them.
In an interview with ABC radio on Friday morning,Turnbull said that at federal level,“the tide has really gone out for the small “l” liberals and the moderates,so the consequence is that people who are more comfortable with that side of the Liberal party are,if you like,voting with their feet and supporting teal independents.
That is their democratic right and whether you want to vote for them or not ... I’m not encouraging people to vote for anyone,I’m encouraging people to vote.”
Responding to his remarks,Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce accused Turnbull of having a tantrum.