At the turn of the Century the ideologies of the major political parties were not as far apart as they are now; there were more swinging voters and less interest in independent candidates. Turnbull was ambitious and would have been torn between the Liberal leanings of his upbringing and his passion for the republic; he probably would have made a good PM on either side of the fence if he hadn't been undermined by party infighting and continually frustrated in his legislative agenda by a tiny majority and hostile Senate. Since then the Libs have drifted further right and Labor further left; the Country has been polarised US-style and you don't need to look beyond this forum to see that, or very far beyond it to see the cause.
