Topic: Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian politician, the current Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament, and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party, succeeding Brendan Nelson on 16 September 2008.

Turnbull is a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Division of Wentworth in Sydney's eastern suburbs since October 2004. He served as the Federal Minister for Environment and Water Resources in 2007. Before entering parliamentary politics he practised as a barrister, was a merchant banker, and was leader of the Australian Republican Movement.

When the incumbent Liberal/National coalition government led by John Howard lost government at the November 2007 federal election, a vote for the Liberal leadership took place days later. Brendan Nelson was elected Liberal Party leader over Turnbull by a margin of 45 votes to 42. In September 2008, following a second vote for the Liberal leadership, Turnbull was elected Liberal Party leader by a margin of 45 votes to 41 over Nelson.