After losing government in 2022, the Liberal Party did what all defeated political parties do: it reflected deeply, listened carefully to the electorate, and absolutely did not learn the wrong lesson.
Labor, under Anthony Albanese, swept to power. The message from voters was not subtle. It arrived on election night, waving from every capital city, holding a sign that read: “We’ve had enough of this.”
The Liberal Party studied the sign closely and replied: “Interesting. But what if… more of this?”
Enter Peter Dutton.
With a new leader came a new direction. Unfortunately, that direction was right. Not “slightly right.” Not “economic conservative, socially moderate” right. This was a determined, purposeful march rightward – so far right that, had the Earth been flat, they’d have fallen off.
By the time the 2025 election arrived, the Liberal–National Coalition had positioned itself as a party deeply suspicious of climate science, culturally allergic to nuance, and convinced that voters were crying out for policies last popular during the Howard government’s early dial-up years.
Voters responded with enthusiasm – just not the kind the Liberals were hoping for.
They were crushed. Again. More decisively. With feeling.
At this point, a lesser party might pause. It might reassess. It might ask awkward questions like:
- Are we out of step with modern Australia?
- Do voters actually want this?
- Is it possible that yelling louder is not the same as listening better?
The Liberal Party asked none of these questions.
Instead, it unveiled its bold new strategy: move even further to the right.
Because if there’s one thing history teaches us, it’s that when Australians reject a party for being too ideologically rigid, culturally backward, and disconnected from everyday life, the solution is obvious – double down.
This is politics as interpreted by a malfunctioning GPS.
“You have missed the turn.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Recalculating.”
“Don’t you dare.”
There is something almost admirable about the consistency. Lose the centre? Ignore it. Alienate younger voters? Excellent. Struggle in cities? Perfect. The theory seems to be that eventually the electorate will panic, look around, and say: “You know what we need right now? 1998.”
Until then, the Liberal Party will continue its lonely trek rightward, convinced that the problem isn’t the direction – it’s that Australians simply haven’t followed yet.
Any day now.
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As of now, the Libs are trying to regain voters lost to OneNeuron; they have no interest in competing with the ALP (which is all to the well, because they also lack the ability).
I hope the ALP will listen to and discuss moving away from the us of a.
Not totally move away, but let them know we are noy happy with their sub deal and there are too many bases and u s military people here.
@ Roswell: You have exposed the secret strategy of the LIARBRAL$ to steal the NOtional$ policy of ”moving forward into the 19th century”. It will only take 26 years for the NOalition to prove to Australian voters that LABOR are the best financial managers of the Australian economy, despite the knowingly wrong propaganda from the corporate community.
Oops!! Chalmers has already proved it in record time!!! Such a flagrant oversight of economic analysis by the by the Mainstream Media Manipulation Monopoly scribblers.
Indeed, the foreign owned corporations may be just a little worried that Australian politics has swung in favour of the voters with the inherent risk of necessary changes to the taxation laws requiring corporations to actually pay tax in Australia on the huge profits they extract because of the peaceful economic environment.
Now about spending that allocated $368 BILLION allocated by Scummo for his post-politics ”retirement” sinecure ….How about $123 BILLION into regional public infrastructure and services, including social housing, public health, highway construction and education staffing & staff facilities (Excellent teachers have to be enticed out of metro schools where local politicians send their kids ….. look at the Canberra syndrome; ”My kids in school, schools (and universities) get funding”.
Well, 35% of the voters require 35% of the public infrastructure funding.