Australia must not take its democracy for granted as challenges to democratic institutions intensify worldwide, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned.

Speaking at a tree-planting ceremony in Faulconbridge’s Corridor of Oaks, Turnbull cautioned against the erosion of democratic norms, pointing to the United States as an example of how institutions can come under attack.

“We are seeing extraordinary assaults on democracy,” he said. “I'm not just talking about Vladimir Putin. Look at the challenges in the United States. Look at the way Donald Trump is attacking the judiciary. A judge has given a decision that he doesn’t like, and he abuses the judge, calls him a radical left lunatic, and calls for him to be impeached. So you are seeing in the United States the rule of law under attack from the President.”

Turnbull, who served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, urged Australians to value and protect the country’s democratic institutions. He credited Australia’s compulsory voting system, preferential voting, and independent electoral commission with keeping the political system more balanced than that of other nations.

“We have great strengths in this country in terms of our democracy, not just because we're more sensible than the Americans and indeed a lot of others... We have compulsory voting. We've had it for 100 years. Think about that.”

Addressing a group of school students attending the ceremony, Turnbull emphasised the importance of civic participation and speaking out against intimidation.

“A lot of people get frightened out of speaking up because they get bullied,” he said. “People sometimes try to bully me, which, history has shown, is a futile exercise. But I say this particularly to the young people: never, ever let people intimidate you from speaking your mind.”

He rejected the notion that political engagement should be left to elected representatives, stressing that democracy relies on the participation of all citizens.

“Sometimes people talk about politics as though it's a game of football, like the Grand Final... and everyone else is in the stands, cheering or booing. But our political system is not like that. All of us are participants.”

Turnbull also reflected on the 2022 federal election, where the rise of independent candidates - particularly the so-called ‘Teal’ independents - challenged the Liberal Party’s hold on traditionally safe seats. He credited Australia’s electoral system with preventing extreme political polarisation.

“In our system, you’re fighting for the middle ground. If a party is seen to go too far to one extreme or another, independents come straight through the middle,” he said. “That is, I cannot tell you how important that is.”

The former Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the recognition, acknowledging the significance of having his own oak tree planted among those of past leaders.