All eyes on Turnbull in reshuffle

When Opposition Leader Tony Abbott reshuffles his frontbench all eyes will be on
where he puts former leader Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Abbott says there won't be big changes to the line-up that fell just two votes
short of occupying the government benches.
On Tuesday, he declared Mr Turnbull would return as a "senior member" of the
coalition team.
That's been interpreted as a guarantee of a shadow cabinet position.
The best fit for Mr Turnbull, a former merchant banker, would be in either the
treasury or finance portfolios.
The Wentworth MP was opposition treasury spokesman in 2008 until he became coalition
leader in September.
While it's unlikely Mr Abbott will move Joe Hockey out of that role, Mr Turnbull
could replace Andrew Robb in finance.
Australian National University political analyst Norman Abjorensen says Mr Abbott
needs to bolster the coalition's economic credentials before the next election.
"For someone with an economics degree he's (Mr Abbott) fairly light on the economic
side of politics," Dr Abjorensen said, adding the coalition relied heavily on
rhetoric rather than substance during the election campaign.
"I think Abbott's now got to prove his policy credentials and get the team behind
him to work more on policy.
"I don't think he commands a team of great intellectual political depth so he's got
to make the most of what he's got on his frontbench."
Mr Turnbull would also make a good communications spokesman.
Unlike Mr Abbott, he's a serious "tech head" who turned a healthy profit after
setting up the internet provider Ozemail.
The coalition's broadband policy has been ridiculed by many experts and kingmaker
independent Tony Windsor said fast internet was "the most critical" issue he'd taken
into account when backing Labor.
Tony Smith, the current communications spokesman, failed to sell the coalition's
policy and counter arguments that it was vastly inferior, not just cheaper, than
Labor's $43 billion national broadband network (NBN).
Defence is another portfolio that could change hands with David Johnston in the
firing line. There's talk Mr Turnbull could even slot into that role.
Dr Abjorensen says it's always a "calculated risk" for a current leader to bring a
former leader back into the fold.
"How Abbott deals with Turnbull will, in some ways, be a fairly strong test of his
leadership," he said.
"Anyone who knows Malcolm Turnbull and has watched his career thinks he's still in
politics because he hasn't entirely shelved his ambitions."
Mr Abbott is expected to be re-elected Liberal leader unopposed at a partyroom
meeting in Canberra on Thursday.
It's likely his deputy, Julie Bishop, will be too.
Mr Robb on Wednesday discussed with colleagues the possibility of challenging her
but has now ruled it out.
"Mr Robb has confirmed tonight that he will not be a candidate tomorrow," his
spokesman told AAP.
It's understood Mr Robb was initially sounded out by a number of colleagues about
the prospect of running against Ms Bishop.
Mr Abbott on Tuesday (Tuesday) said he was pleased with the performance of his team
"particularly the performance of my deputy Julie Bishop".
"I could not have asked for a better deputy," he said.
As for other changes to his frontbench, the opposition leader made it clear there
wouldn't be many.
"I have great confidence in my team and while inevitability there will be some
changes ... I don't think anyone should be expecting big changes."