Local Member of Parliament

Malcolm Bligh Turnball
Local Member for Wentworth and the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water resources.

He is a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Wentworth in Sydney's Easter Suburbs since October 2005.

Prior to his political career he was a barrister, merchant banker and leader of the Australian Republican Movement.


Background
Malcolm grew up in Vaucluse and Double Bay in the 1950s and 1960s. His father, Bruce, was a single parent for much of Malcolm's childhood.

Malcolm was educated at Vaucluse Public School and Sydney Grammar School. Malcolm's high school education at Sydney Grammar was assisted by a scholarship.

Malcolm graduated from Sydney University with a BA LLB.

He won a Rhodes Scholarship and completed a further law degree at Oxford.

During and after his studies at Sydney University, Malcolm worked as a journalist with the Bulletin, 2SM, TCN 9 and the London Sunday Times.

After a successful career in journalism Malcolm began practicing law in 1980. He quickly established a reputation as an effective advocate, most notably when he successfully defended former MI5 agent Peter Wright against the British Government, in the "Spycatcher" trial.

Malcolm left law for business in 1987 where he has since been responsible for the establishment and success of many Australian businesses. In particular he has been a determined supporter of Australian technology. He co-founded OzEmail in 1994. His software companies have won many awards for exporting Australian technology.

In 1997 Malcolm was elected to attend the Australian Constitutional Convention. He led the republican case in that Convention and in the subsequent referendum. Malcolm has initiated numerous policy and research projects in areas such as:
education
indigenous affairs
home ownership affordability
balancing work and family responsibilities
national population
fertility policy.
He has been Chair of the Menzies Research Centre since 2001.

Malcolm was a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the House of Representatives Standing Committees on Economics, Health and Ageing and Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Malcolm was elected as the Federal Member for Wentworth at the general election on 9 October, 2004.

Malcolm has had a long interest in water policy and water conservation in particular.

Malcolm was appointed Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on 30 January 2007 having held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister since 27 January 2006.

Political Background
Turnbull first ran for Liberal Party preselection for the seat of Wentworth in 1981, but was beaten by Peter Coleman.

In 2003 Turnbull announced that he was seeking a seat in federal Parliament
In early 2004 he won another hotly contested preselection battle for Wentworth, defeating Peter King, the sitting Liberal member.

This was a traditionally safe Liberal electorate that turned into an electoral wildcard, the contest for the seat becoming a three man race between Turnbull, King and Labor candidate David Patch. During the campaign, Turnbull spent over $600,000 on electoral expenditure. The Liberal vote fell 10 percent, but Turnbull still won.

Political Background
Since his election Turnbull has made a series of speeches on economic matters, particularly taxation, which some commentators have seen as implied criticisms of the policies of the Treasurer, Peter Costello, although Turnbull denies this.
Announcing his cabinet reshuffle on 24 January 2006, Australian Prime Minister John Howard promoted Turnbull from the backbench to Parliamentary Secretary, with special responsibility for water. In this new capacity he reports directly to the Prime Minister.
On 26 September 2006 John Howard announced the creation, within the department of the Prime Minister, of the new "Office of Water Resources" to address the problem of drought in Australia. Turnbull was in charge of this office.

Turnabll was then elevated by Prime Minister John Howard to head the Environment and Water Resources portfolio in January 2007.
FY: In February 2007 Turnbull was criticised for claiming a government allowance of $175 a night and giving it to his wife as rent while living in a townhouse in Canberra, that she owns.