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Colour portrait photograph of Malcolm Turnbull supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

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  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. Malcolm Turnbull
  5. Malcolm Turnbull: before office

Malcolm Turnbull: before office

Malcolm Turnbull was the Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018.

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 24 October 1954 to Bruce Bligh Turnbull and Coral Magnolia Lansbury. His father was a hotel broker and his mother a radio actor, writer and academic.

Turnbull attended Sydney Grammar School before going on to the University of Sydney, where he received an arts degree and a law degree. He then attended Brasenose College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar, where he attained a Bachelor of Civil Law.

Before entering politics, Turnbull worked as a journalist, lawyer, investment banker and venture capitalist. In 1993, he became the Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, serving in the position until 2000.

In 2003, Turnbull announced that he was seeking a seat in federal Parliament. In early 2004, he won the New South Wales seat of Wentworth. Under Prime Minister John Howard, Turnbull was appointed Minister for the Environment and Water in January 2007.

Turnbull retained his seat in the 2007 federal election, and was elected Liberal Party leader on 16 September 2008. On 1 December 2009, Turnbull subsequently lost a leadership ballot to Tony Abbott.

From September 2013 to September 2015, Turnbull served as Minister for Communications. On 14 September 2015, he resigned as Minister and announced he would challenge Tony Abbott as Leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister. He won the party room ballot 54 votes to 44.

In this section: Malcolm Turnbull

  • Fast facts
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  • Before office
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Colour portrait photograph of Kevin Rudd supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Kevin Rudd

2007–2010
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Colour portrait photograph of Tont Abbott supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Tony Abbott

2013–2015

Colour portrait photograph of Scott Morrison supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Scott Morrison

2018–2022

Old Parliament House, Canberra

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