Nick Economou, senior lecturer in politics at Monash University in Melbourne, said it was too early to say whether Turnbull would be able to charm the electorate and turn around the government’s fortunes.
“A lot depends on the economic argument he intends to make,” he said.
“I think there is a real danger for Turnbull here because… the problem in the Australian economy is the mining boom is over, government expenditure is outstripping revenue raising and he will face the same problem that Tony Abbott faced.”
Turnbull — who was ousted by Abbott as Liberal Party leader in 2009 over his support of the previous Labor government’s carbon emissions trading scheme — also said there would be no change to Australia’s climate policy.
With its heavy use of coal-fired power and relatively small population of 23 million, Australia is considered one of the world’s worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters.
Canberra’s targets for reducing emissions over the next 15 years by 2030 have been criticised as well below the level required by the government’s own advisory body, the Climate Change Authority.
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