Will Malcolm Play Ball?

Miranda Devine calls it the ‘perfect political synchronicity of a Premier Malcolm Turnbull’. Her article in SMH brings to the fore the notion that Malcolm Turnbull, having quit Federal politics, could quite happily slot into the top spot in NSW Liberal and therefore, without question relieve our beleaguered Premier of a task that is obviously beyond her experience. Barry O’Farrell has gone so far as to offer the seat of Vaucluse to the once federal leader.

While NSW would be happy with such a dovetailed solution to the State’s woes, it remains to be seen whether the business meister himself is as overjoyed with the idea. NSW clearly needs a leader who can govern effectively; a leader who understands finance, business, and hopefully has concerns about the environment; a man for all seasons, a 21st Century man. Turnbull ticks all of the boxes.

That he was inexperienced in the machinations of Federal politics should have been a plus for the voting public. Yet now we find ourselves, once again, the unwitting onlookers in a partisan squabble between two career politicians. That these aspirants have the nation’s best interests at heart isn’t in question. It’s their lack of runs on the board outside of Parliament that is the reason for our current malaise. A successful businessman prior to his entry into politics, Turnbull offered a different perspective in the Federal arena. It was resolutely rejected.

For the moment that is history. Miranda Divine’s proposition, supported by commenters across the board in newspaper forums, is a breath of fresh for the voters of NSW. Whether or not the renaissance man wants to play ball is another thing. One can only hope that NSW isn’t too small a playground for him.