Australian Story: August 3rd

Tonight’s Australian Story takes a closer look at Malcolm Turnbull and his “pre-destined path to glory.”

Belinda Hawkins has produced editions on Julia Gillard, Simon Crean, Greg Combet and Alexander Downer. Her trademark is getting up close and personal with those in the public eye who very rarely let down their media-trained guard. She does so by filming much of the material herself.

This episode looks at the now infamous fake email in the Utegate affair. Australian Story was filming behind the scenes with Mr Turnbull’s inner circle as the scale of the Utegate debacle became apparent. Talk about right place, right time.

Hawkins recalls, “I saw him turn over and over in his mind what went wrong in the so called Utegate affair.

“I saw him all but agonise over writing his reply to the Budget, not relying on advisors to shape his thoughts,” she said.

“I also saw him grappling with understanding who was the mother who left when he was a young boy, and what is the legacy of her treatment of him in terms of the man he has become.

“It became clear that his closest and constant advisor is his wife, Lucy Turnbull, who grew up in a political household and was the first female lord mayor of Sydney.

“His linguistic skills are at once rapier-like and playful in their employment. He cries one moment about his father’s death and cuts me down the next. He is undoubtedly clever, human and flawed.”

Australian Story airs 8pm tonight on ABC1.