Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has stunned The Project panel with a scathing attack on his former Coalition colleague Peter Dutton, declaring that he is “a bully”.
Mr Turnbull left The Project presenters speechless when he delivered a scathing assessment of the federal opposition leader on Sunday night.
Asked what kind of prime minister Peter Dutton would be if he won the next federal election, Turnbull gave a blunt answer.
“I think it’s something we should look at with fear,” Turnbull said.
The comment raised eyebrows from the panel.
“Really? Why is that?” host Sarah Harris asked.
“Don’t stop Malcolm,” said panel member Peter Helliar.
Mr Turnbull replied with a smile on his face: “Well, he’s a bully.”
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) appeared on The Project on Sunday
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) came under heavy attack from former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on The Project on Sunday.
The studio audience erupted in laughter at Turnbull’s comment.
Mr Turnbull continued: ‘Peter has a tune that he plays and that has accompanied him throughout his political life, and that is division and animosity, usually directed against immigrants.
‘I couldn’t think of anyone less suitable to be Prime Minister of a multicultural society like Australia.
‘There’s no point in beating around the bush. It’s an important question and I’ve given you an honest answer.’
Asked if there was a chance he would vote Labor at the next election, Turnbull said: “Well, there’s always the possibility… I haven’t… there are all sorts of options.”
Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he thinks current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will call a snap election.
“No, I don’t think so,” Mr Turnbull said.
‘It would be really difficult to have an election between now and the end of the year, with state elections like Queensland and redistribution.
“I think (Mr Albanese) will leave between March and May of next year.”
Sarah Harris (pictured) interviewed former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on The Project on Sunday
Asked about the prospects of returning to politics, Mr Turnbull quickly dismissed the suggestion.
“No, I’m happy to be out of this,” he said.
“But I really loved doing the work I did in politics and I would have liked to do it for a few more years.”
Although Turnbull said he had “absolutely” no desire to return, he joked to presenter Sarah Harris when she pressed him: “Just to keep Dutton out of the top job?”
“Well, look, I’m young enough for that,” he joked.
