Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says a vacuum in Australian politics has created prime conditions for a new centrist party, but has distanced himself from having a role in its creation.
“There is absolutely an opportunity there. I mean, people feel the Liberal Party has moved away from the centre. That is why the teals were elected, and the more the Liberal Party tries to chase and emulate and copy One Nation, the more it builds up the vote for One Nation,” he told Radio National.
“I think there is a vacuum for an alternative centre party. Now, the teals would be obvious people to be part of that, or to do that, but, and I’ve talked to them about that publicly going back some years, but whether they actually decide to do so is up to them. So I’m not involved with any, you know, plans to set something up.”
Asked whether he had been speaking about the political climate with some of the independents, Turnbull said: “I talk to a lot of people.”
“I’m not actively involved in politics at all, but I, you know, I certainly talk to people like Allegra Spender. I’ve spoken to Zali [Steggall] in the past and spoken to others.”
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