Lucy has never shirked from this responsibility either. In an interview with The Australian shortly after her husband was sworn in, she explained that she would continue to act as his “sounding board”.
“I think that’s inevitable in any long-term marriage where there’s a strong communication. Malcolm is a sounding board for me and I expect I will continue to be a sounding board for him … it’s a mutually, kind of supporting relationship,’’ she said.
The Prime Minister seemingly agrees, making a point of referencing Lucy and their 38-year-strong marriage in numerous speeches and interviews.
In the wake of the Government’s most recent scandal– ‘Barnaby’s bundle of Joyce’– then, it’s little surprise that the PM has turned once more to his most trusted adviser for guidance.
Last week, Malcolm Turnbull publicly lambasted his deputy, Barnaby Joyce for creating a “world of woe” for his wife Natalie and four daughters, as well as for his new pregnant partner, Vikki Campion. He questioned Joyce’s character in carrying out an affair which had thrown Parliament into chaos and “appalled everyone.” He subsequently put a ban in place preventing Government ministers from pursuing relationships with staff members– AKA the #BonkBan.
Never one to back down quietly, Joyce shot back accusing the PM of making matters worse, labelling the attack as “inept” and “unnecessary.” Tension in the coalition was palpable with commentators suggesting the public rift between PM and deputy would be hard to come back from.
Appearing on 60 Minutes last night however, the PM stood by his response, saying he had no regrets in how he’d handled Joyce’s affair and conceded that the ministerial sex ban imposed on his government was “one of those classic issues” where he’d sought the counsel of his wife.
“Yes Lucy and I talked about this, this is one of those classic issues where it’s good to take counsel from your wife, life partner,” he told the program’s interviewer, Liz Hayes. “Lucy absolutely agrees, and — who would disagree? Do we think it’s a good idea for ministers to have sexual relations with their staff? No? Well, why don’t we just say so?” He said.
The PM further explained the #BonkBan policy and his rationale for speaking out in such a definitive way despite the scorn of his deputy.
“I think Australians wanted to hear their prime minister’s heartfelt views about these events, they wanted to know what I felt about them,” he said. “They wanted to hear it from my lips but also from my heart.”
“Saying you’re speaking for 25 million people is a bit presumptuous, but I certainly felt that the values I expressed and the action I took, would have the overwhelming endorsement of Australians. I felt it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
It was.
Indeed, Lucy Turnbull’s advice may well save the PM from being tangled up irreversibly in Joyce’s misdemeanours. His clear leadership (despite initial hesitance), and portrayal of a perfect marriage against the backdrop of Barnaby’s sordid affair was straight from the political PR handbook. Taking a stand was the right thing to do.
And the PM has his wife to thank if he emerges from this saga unscathed.