The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Beatbot

.

Without those 'lefties' the Liberals can't regain government

  • Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

A key issue for the Liberals’ election post-mortem that reports later this year – conveniently after the Victorian election – is how the party deals in future with the “teal” phenomenon.

It is highly unlikely the Liberals can regain office without winning back at least some of the batch of seats community independents have wrested from it.

Progressive teals dispatched moderate Liberals. These MPs will be hard to dislodge anyway, once they have dug in. Commonsense would suggest the Liberals at least would need progressive candidates to have a chance in these seats.

But apparently not, in the opinion of a federal Liberal vice-president, Teena McQueen.

McQueen at the weekend told the Conservative Political Action Conference Australia: “The good thing about the last federal election is a lot of those lefties are gone. We should rejoice in that.

"People I’ve been trying to get rid of for a decade have gone, we need to renew with good conservative candidates.”

McQueen – who ousted a moderate, former MP Trish Worth, to become a vice-president – is known for airing her frank opinions, often unhelpful for her party.

The Liberals’ four federal vice-presidents are discouraged from speaking out publicly; when they do, they are supposed to get the okay of the party’s director.

Early this year, with McQueen in mind, the party’s federal executive passed a motion saying that until the election only the president and director could make public statements about federal party matters.

But McQueen, a regular contributor to Sky News, dismisses suggestions she should go quiet. Whether she remains as a vice-president after the 2023 Liberal federal council will be a test of the Liberal organisation.

On his performance so far, opposition leader Peter Dutton is trying to take a pragmatic line on issues (endorsing the proposed anti-corruption commission) and in rhetoric describing the party (declaring “we are the Liberal party”, not the “Moderate party” or the “Conservative party”).

But in the party at large, there is no consensus about the direction the Liberals should take, including whether they should give up on the teal seats or fight hard to regain them.

Read more: View from The Hill: national cabinet drops mandatory isolation, dumping 'COVID exceptionalism'[1]

The Institute of Public Affairs’ John Roskam, a party member for at least three decades, wrote (shortly before the May 21 election), “Eventually Liberal attempts to woo the voters of Vaucluse and Hawthorn could be as futile as the Republicans trying to win back Manhattan”.

John Howard has always liked to talk about the Liberal party as a “broad church” embracing both the conservative and classical liberal traditions.

These days those representing the latter, the moderates, are a shadow of their former selves. Surviving moderate federal parliamentarians are scarce, although they do have some significant positions – Simon Birmingham is opposition Senate leader and Julian Leeser is shadow attorney-general, and spokesman on the Voice to Parliament.

At the grassroots level, there is little incentive for small-l liberals to join the party, especially as for some the alternative can be to mobilise behind a teal candidate (which is happening at present for the November Victorian election).

Meanwhile the Liberal conservatives are divided between traditionalists and those on the hard right, the latter wanting the party to turn its back on centrist policies and candidates.

Read more: Optus under fire from government over delaying information handover[2]

The traditional conservatives include former Howard-government minister Nick Minchin, currently one of the party’s federal vice-presidents. It was telling that he was booed at the weekend conference. Labelled as a “right winger” through his political career, Minchin wasn’t considered “right wing” enough.

Those from the uncompromising right (some of them, installed via branch stacking, coming from religious groups) appear to have a strong grip in a party that is hollowed out at rank and file level.

This contributes to the many other problems of both attracting and selecting parliamentary candidates with impressive credentials.

Preselection plebiscites, desirable in theory, can have undesirable outcomes when a party is dominated by factions and fanatics. Top-down preselections can be as bad – think Scott Morrison’s captain’s pick of Katherine Deves for the seat of Warringah.

The present (much-reduced) parliamentary Liberal party is unfit for even the purpose of opposition. It’s lacking in depth of talent, short on women, and with more people than it can afford who are embarrassments, taking up seats that should be better filled.

Read more: Grattan on Friday: National Anti-Corruption Commission set for easy birth thanks to Albanese-Dutton accord[3]

The Victorian and NSW state elections (the latter is in March) will be a test for Liberals versus teals.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet this week expressed optimism the teals wouldn’t be as big a problem as in the federal election.

“I think it comes down to policy, and I’m very proud of the policies of the [state] Liberals and Nationals in addressing those issues that the teals raised at a federal government level,” Perrottet said.

“I think you’ll see the policy framework in which we operate was very different to the previous [federal] government in relation to those issues.” We’ll see how that works out.

The review of the federal election result is being done by a former Liberal federal director, Brian Loughnane, and frontbencher Jane Hume.

If Loughnane and Hume are tempted to pull their punches they will do the party a disservice. Scott Morrison might have been the biggest negative for the Liberals in May, but behind him was a party that had become dysfunctional, a reality just highlighted by the success of the teals and other community candidates.

Read more https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-without-those-lefties-the-liberals-cant-regain-government-191846

The Times Features

How can brands recognise the very important role that visual content plays in the real world?

For nearly three decades, Getty Images and iStock have developed unparalleled expertise in understanding the impact of visual content on our world. During this time, one truth ...

Long COVID appears to be driven by ‘long infection’. Here’s what the science says

Around 5–10%[1] of people with COVID infections go on to experience long COVID, with symptoms lasting three months or more. Researchers have proposed several biological mechan...

Evaluating Costs and Benefits of DIY Plumbing vs. Professional Services in Newcastle

Plumbing is an essential service for homes and businesses in Newcastle, ensuring the smooth flow of water and sanitation facilities. As residents and businesses strive to maintai...

Tasting Australia welcomes Journey Beyond as new presenting partner

One of the country’s longest running food and beverage festivals, Tasting Australia has announced Journey Beyond as the festival’s new presenting partner for 2025 and beyond. Th...

There are 2 main ways to stretch – the one you should choose depends on what you want your body to do

Picture this: you’ve just woken up and rolled out of bed. Your feet hit the floor, and your legs buckle. They are in absolute agony – that run yesterday has really come back to...

Chef Tom Walton shares three top tips to create budget-friendly meals without compromising on flavour

Feeding the family on a budget doesn’t need to mean sacrificing flavour. Chef Tom Walton shares his top three tips for creating delicious and cost-effective meals. Here’s how y...

Times Magazine

Transform Your Vehicle with Car Wall Stickers

Welcome! Are you looking to add a unique touch to your home decor or spruce up a room in your house? Look no further than car wall stickers! Car wall stickers are the perfect way to bring a touch of nostalgia and fun to any space. Whether you're a ...

The Ultimate Guide for Moving for Seniors

Moving is a major activity, regardless of your age. There are a lot of things to manage and schedule, and the older you become, the more you have to think about. You're not alone if you've decided it's time to relocate but are feeling overwhelmed...

The AI Revolution in Local SEO: Your Personalized Concierge to Customer Connections

Gone are the days of generic "near me" searches and basic keyword optimization. Today's local SEO landscape thrives on deep personalization, hyper-local relevance, and real-time understanding of customer intent. And driving this evolution is none o...

The Concepts of IGCSE Physics

IGCSE Physics is an internationally recognized qualification that is offered to students in many countries around the world. It is a course of study that covers a wide range of topics related to physics, including general physics, mechanics, electr...

Considerations When Deciding on JC Tuition

As a crucial aspect of the academic journey of many students in Singapore, JC tuition plays a vital role in helping them achieve their educational goals and fulfil their academic interests. Junior College education is a financial investment that pr...

Top 5 Reasons to Outsource Your Firebase Development Project

When it comes to actually implementing Firebase into your project, you might find yourself wondering: should you keep it in-house or outsource your Firebase project? Firebase has become a favorite for developers looking to build apps, whether it’s a...