When Turnbull Faced Down Packer And Lived To Tell The Tale
August 25th 2008 22:51
Controversy on the home front today with some startling revelations of intrigue and subterfuge being revealed that crosses the divide between the Australian business and political worlds. The ABC showed a documentary last night called ‘My Brilliant Career’ which focussed on the life and times of Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull. While not quite at the level of the Midnight Oil front man on the other side of Parliament, Malcolm Turnbull was a bit of a star recruit in his own right when he was elected for the Liberals in the Sydney seat of Wentworth. He had a huge profile from his efforts headlining the Republican movement in the lead-up to the 1999 referendum, and before that was known as a star in the world of merchant banking and law, particularly for his role in the Spycatcher Trial in which he helped successfully stop the British Government suppressing the memoirs of a former MI: 5 spy. But the newest addition to the Malcolm Turnbull story is something that adds a new dimension to the image of a strong, smooth operating businessman. This one pits Malcolm Turnbull with the man who was once the most feared person in the Australian business world. Kerry Packer.
Press mogul Packer was the head of Australian Consolidated Press at the time, and Turnbull was serving as the company’s General Counsel and Secretary. The consortium was involved in a bid to purchase to Fairfax media group, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age newspapers, in direct violation to cross-media laws. Purchasing the newspapers would have given Packer ownership of some of the major publications in the country, along with several magazine titles and the Nine Network. That kind of virtual monopoly is exactly what the cross-media regulations are designed to prevent. Which puts Turnbull in an awkward position. You see, as Counsel for Australian Consolidated Press he had a duty to Packer and the company to help him get what he wanted. But as an officer of the court, he could be banned from practicing law if found to be helping conduct an illegal purchase. What to do, what to do? Kerry Packer wasn’t a man you would like to cross, especially not something like this where Turnbull would be forced to scuttle his ambitions. Never get in the way of a man on a mission.
But he did. Turnbull handed over notes made about the dodgy dealings and in a moment straight out of ‘All The President’s Men’ Turnbull met with the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in the middle of a quiet North Sydney street. Once the Chairman got the notes, Packer’s secret plans to control Fairfax through a subsidiary were revealed and his attempts at subverting the cross-media laws were scuttled. And Turnbull was able to come out of it all without raising the ire of the raging Packer who surely wouldn’t have just fired him. Packer would have torn the lawyer limb from limb without a single thought. No wonder Turnbull stressed to the Chairman when he handed over his notes that ‘I fear for myself, for my family, for my career’. Kerry Packer was a man with a lot of influence. Turnbull was taking a major risk.
It shines a new angle on the story of Malcolm Turnbull, and presents a unique opportunity for him to reshape the public view of who he is. Most people see Turnbull as the patrician type. A lawyer, banker, politician who lives and breathes the upper classes of Australian life. And the Australian people tend to shy away from that kind of character, so it’s a serious issue for Turnbull if he seriously wants to consider another tilt at the leadership once Nelson inevitably steps down. Which is why Turnbull could use this revelation. He could paint himself as not one of the establishment, but rather someone who worked within the system but had a commitment to justice. Someone who made the hard decision to go against his boss, one of the most powerful men in the media. Someone with courage and conviction of right and wrong. Believe it or don’t believe it, it doesn’t even matter. What it could serve to do was dull the edge of his upper crust character, if not endear him to the people as the rare person in politics who knows the difference between right and wrong and isn’t just out for themselves. In the event that Peter Costello decides against a run at the leadership, Turnbull is the heir apparent. That kind of image as a crusader is a sure-fire way to come out of the gate as leader with the kind of moral authority to attack the Rudd Government when they eventually make a misstep.
I’m sure when Turnbull met the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in the middle of a quiet street in the middle of the night to hand over the notes, he didn’t think he would have a serious possibility of becoming the next leader of the Liberal Party. But now that he does, it’s a part of his history that he has been conspicuously silent about. It took an ABC documentary for it to come out. But now that it’s out, it paints a new picture of a man that many people have written off and sly or sleazy. It shows a side of honourability and courage.
Just the kind of thing a party leader needs if he has a chance to face down the juggernaut of Kevin07.
Press mogul Packer was the head of Australian Consolidated Press at the time, and Turnbull was serving as the company’s General Counsel and Secretary. The consortium was involved in a bid to purchase to Fairfax media group, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age newspapers, in direct violation to cross-media laws. Purchasing the newspapers would have given Packer ownership of some of the major publications in the country, along with several magazine titles and the Nine Network. That kind of virtual monopoly is exactly what the cross-media regulations are designed to prevent. Which puts Turnbull in an awkward position. You see, as Counsel for Australian Consolidated Press he had a duty to Packer and the company to help him get what he wanted. But as an officer of the court, he could be banned from practicing law if found to be helping conduct an illegal purchase. What to do, what to do? Kerry Packer wasn’t a man you would like to cross, especially not something like this where Turnbull would be forced to scuttle his ambitions. Never get in the way of a man on a mission.
But he did. Turnbull handed over notes made about the dodgy dealings and in a moment straight out of ‘All The President’s Men’ Turnbull met with the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in the middle of a quiet North Sydney street. Once the Chairman got the notes, Packer’s secret plans to control Fairfax through a subsidiary were revealed and his attempts at subverting the cross-media laws were scuttled. And Turnbull was able to come out of it all without raising the ire of the raging Packer who surely wouldn’t have just fired him. Packer would have torn the lawyer limb from limb without a single thought. No wonder Turnbull stressed to the Chairman when he handed over his notes that ‘I fear for myself, for my family, for my career’. Kerry Packer was a man with a lot of influence. Turnbull was taking a major risk.
It shines a new angle on the story of Malcolm Turnbull, and presents a unique opportunity for him to reshape the public view of who he is. Most people see Turnbull as the patrician type. A lawyer, banker, politician who lives and breathes the upper classes of Australian life. And the Australian people tend to shy away from that kind of character, so it’s a serious issue for Turnbull if he seriously wants to consider another tilt at the leadership once Nelson inevitably steps down. Which is why Turnbull could use this revelation. He could paint himself as not one of the establishment, but rather someone who worked within the system but had a commitment to justice. Someone who made the hard decision to go against his boss, one of the most powerful men in the media. Someone with courage and conviction of right and wrong. Believe it or don’t believe it, it doesn’t even matter. What it could serve to do was dull the edge of his upper crust character, if not endear him to the people as the rare person in politics who knows the difference between right and wrong and isn’t just out for themselves. In the event that Peter Costello decides against a run at the leadership, Turnbull is the heir apparent. That kind of image as a crusader is a sure-fire way to come out of the gate as leader with the kind of moral authority to attack the Rudd Government when they eventually make a misstep.
I’m sure when Turnbull met the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in the middle of a quiet street in the middle of the night to hand over the notes, he didn’t think he would have a serious possibility of becoming the next leader of the Liberal Party. But now that he does, it’s a part of his history that he has been conspicuously silent about. It took an ABC documentary for it to come out. But now that it’s out, it paints a new picture of a man that many people have written off and sly or sleazy. It shows a side of honourability and courage.
Just the kind of thing a party leader needs if he has a chance to face down the juggernaut of Kevin07.
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Despite what I though of him previously (pretty neutral) anyone who stopped Packer from owning more media has earned at least some of my respect.
Why he did it, we may never know. How he was not squashed by Packer is another story.