Alex Turnbull steps up war with his dad's old party with threats to bankroll independent candidates to take on Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce

  • Malcolm Turnbull's son said he would give money to independent candidates 
  • Alex Turnbull urged public to vote for Labor candidate in Wentworth by-election  
  • Independent candidates are limited when raising funds for their campaigns
  • Mr Turnbull called for 'reasonable' candidates who advocate on climate change

By Zoe Zaczek For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:49 EST, 10 November 2018 | Updated: 03:38 EST, 11 November 2018

The son of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has threatened to spend money on independent candidates in a bid to oust Liberal MPs in the next election.

Alex Turnbull, a Singapore-based fund manager, said he would throw support behind 'reasonable' candidates who advocate on climate change in key government seats - specifically those held by Barnaby Joyce, Tony Abbott and energy minister Angus Taylor.

Mr Turnbull told Guardian Australia he would spend his own money as well as assist in raising money, claiming that the hurdle to accessing money could be overcome.

Alex Turnbull (pictured), a Singapore-based fund manager, said he would throw support behind 'reasonable' candidates who advocate on climate change

Alex Turnbull (pictured), a Singapore-based fund manager, said he would throw support behind 'reasonable' candidates who advocate on climate change

If the National Farmers Federation president Fiona Smith chose to run as an independent in Barnaby Joyce's (pictured) electorate, Mr Turnbull said he would personally donate money to the campaign

If the National Farmers Federation president Fiona Smith chose to run as an independent in Barnaby Joyce's (pictured) electorate, Mr Turnbull said he would personally donate money to the campaign

'If (the hurdle) is a money thing, you would be surprised at how much could be raised,' he said.

'The issue is, if you are going to win, you need someone with local credibility, who is practical and reasonable. Their only real barriers are cash and organisational support. Cash often solves organisational issues.'

If the National Farmers Federation president Fiona Smith chose to run as an independent in Barnaby Joyce's electorate, Mr Turnbull said he would personally donate money to the campaign. 

There have been calls for Ms Smith to run against Mr Joyce but she is yet to have made up her mind. 

'Independents can be very constructive and helpful members of parliament, they haven't been brutalised by major party machines,' Mr Turnbull told Guardian Australia. 

The younger Turnbull controversially urged voters to support Labor candidate Tim Murray in the Wentworth by-election after his father's axing left the seat vacant.

Mr Turnbull previously urged voters to support Labor candidate Tim Murray in the Wentworth by-election after his father was axed from the top job (pictured: Tony Abbott)

Mr Turnbull previously urged voters to support Labor candidate Tim Murray in the Wentworth by-election after his father was axed from the top job (pictured: Tony Abbott)

Independent candidates are often restrained by funding - Dr Kerryn Phelps (pictured) who won the historically blue-ribbon Wentworth seat had a budget of $300,000

Independent candidates are often restrained by funding - Dr Kerryn Phelps (pictured) who won the historically blue-ribbon Wentworth seat had a budget of $300,000

Independent candidates are often restrained by funding, particularly those running in large rural seats.

In 2016, Cathy McGowan had a budget of $200,000 for her Indi seat which is 28,000 square kilometres. 

Dr Kerryn Phelps who won the historically blue-ribbon Wentworth seat had a budget of $300,000.  

Appearing on Q&A on Thursday Mr Turnbull's father said that three lower house independents - Ms McGowan, Dr Phelps and Rebekha Sharkie - were 'small-L liberals'. 

'So what that's telling you is that the voters are – through voting for these independents – saying, ''We are concerned that the Liberal party is not speaking for small-L liberal values, for genuinely liberal values, and therefore we take the matter in our own hands and we put in a liberal independent'',' Malcolm Turnbull said on Q&A. 

Appearing on Q&A on Thursday Mr Turnbull's father Malcolm (pictured) said that three lower house independents - Ms McGowan, Dr Phelps and Rebekha Sharkie - were 'small-L liberals' 

Appearing on Q&A on Thursday Mr Turnbull's father Malcolm (pictured) said that three lower house independents - Ms McGowan, Dr Phelps and Rebekha Sharkie - were 'small-L liberals' 

The former leader also took aim at the nine Liberal Party 'insurgents' who conspired to depose him during the leadership spill.

He had been answering a question from an audience member - who asked simply why he had been removed as leader.

'The only people that can answer that are the people that engineered the coup — people like Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt and Mathias Cormann — the people who voted for the spill,' he said.

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Alex Turnbull threatens to bankroll independent candidates to take on Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott 

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