How does the Liberal Party rebuild? | Insiders On Background

Key Concepts:

• Liberal Party's existential crisis
• Revisiting the Liberal Party's foundation documents ("we believe" statement)
• Connecting with young voters, women, and multicultural Australians
• Pre-selection processes and quotas
• Policy offerings and their impact on voters
• Leadership debate (Susan Ley vs. Angus Taylor)
• Justine Jima Price's move to the Liberal Party
• Organizational review of the Liberal Party
• Coalition with the National Party

1. Analysis of the Election Result and the Liberal Party's Current State

• The Liberal Party suffered a "crushing" defeat, prompting a need to revisit its core values and principles.
• Fiona Scott emphasizes the need to revisit everything, starting with the Liberal Party's foundation documents, particularly the "we believe" statement.
• The party faces an "existential crisis" and must find a way to appeal to young voters and women.
• The party needs to determine if it is truly embodying the values outlined in its foundation documents.

2. The Liberal Party's Foundation Documents and Values

• The "we believe" statement, dating back to the Menzies era, outlines key principles such as:
  • Belief in Australia, its people, and its future.
  • Innate worth of the individual.
  • Right to be independent, own property, and achieve.
  • Need to encourage initiative and personal responsibility.
  • Basic freedoms of thought, worship, speech, association, and choice.
  • Equality of opportunity.
  • Tolerant national community.
  • Just and humane society where those who cannot provide for themselves can live in dignity.
• Scott questions whether the Liberal Party's actions and policies align with these values, citing the Robo-debt scandal as an example of failing to uphold the dignity of those who cannot provide for themselves.
• She contrasts the current situation with the 2013 election, where the party offered a vision of "hope, reward, and opportunity" that resonated with voters.

3. Connecting with Diverse Demographics

• The Liberal Party is losing young voters, women, and multicultural Australians.
• Scott points to seats like Werriwa and Fowler, where the Liberal Party has struggled to connect with multicultural communities, despite the values of the Liberal Party aligning with these communities.
• She argues that the party needs to become more representative of the people it wants to represent.
• The party needs to connect again with women, multicultural communities, and young people.

4. Pre-Selection Processes and Quotas

• There is a debate about how to get more women pre-selected, with some advocating for quotas similar to those adopted by the Labor Party.
• Scott is not convinced that quotas are the answer, arguing that the problem is much deeper.
• She acknowledges the hypocrisy of opposing quotas while quotas exist within cabinets.
• She highlights successful female candidates like Katie Mullins and Joe Vanderlatt, suggesting that the issue is not solely about pre-selection but also about the policy offering.

5. Policy Offerings and Their Impact

• Scott believes that the policy offering is crucial for winning votes.
• She criticizes policies like the proposed sacking of 41,000 public servants, arguing that it entrenches a view that the party is "mean."
• She also points to the work-from-home policy as a misstep that alienated voters, particularly women in Western Sydney facing cost-of-living pressures.
• The work from home policy sent a "cold shiver" down her spine.

6. Leadership Debate and Potential Candidates

• The leadership debate is between Susan Ley and Angus Taylor.
• Susan Ley argues that having a female leader would send a strong message to women.
• Scott is torn, stating that the party needs change but is unsure if either candidate can deliver it.
• She emphasizes the need for a leader who will genuinely listen to the message from the Australian public and rebuild the party from the ground up.
• She wants to hear from the people who want to be leaders about how they will dig into the party's systems, CRM, campaign platforms, protocols, communication with candidates, pre-selection processes, secretariats, media buying, and policy alignment.

7. Justine Jima Price's Move to the Liberal Party

• Justine Jima Price's move to the Liberal Party has upset some members.
• Scott acknowledges Price's strong views on issues like the Voice, abortion, and school curriculum.
• She cautions against bringing "Trump-style" politics to Australia.
• She emphasizes the need to govern to the center and for all Australians, given the compulsory voting system.
• She highlights the need for healing after the Voice referendum and bringing Aboriginal Australia and multicultural communities together.

8. Organizational Review of the Liberal Party

• Scott calls for a top-to-bottom review of the Liberal Party, including:
  • CRM systems
  • Polling
  • Advertising
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Local wish list items
  • Executive structure
  • Intervention in New South Wales
  • Pre-selection processes
• She suggests that the review should be conducted by someone with "completely clean hands" who can bring people together.
• She suggests Gladys Berejiklian as a potential candidate to lead the review.
• She emphasizes the need for the party to evolve and transition from generation to generation.

9. Coalition with the National Party

• Scott had not considered breaking apart the coalition with the National Party.
• She highlights positive relationships with National Party members like Peron Davyy, Michael McCormack, Darren Chester, and Matt Ganavan.
• She acknowledges bruising three-corner contests and difficulties with the Western Australian division of the National Party.
• She points out that the coalition is made up of various parties with different constitutions and structures.

10. Synthesis/Conclusion

The Liberal Party faces a critical juncture after a significant election defeat. The path forward requires a comprehensive re-evaluation of its core values, policies, and organizational structure. Key to its revival is reconnecting with diverse demographics, particularly young voters, women, and multicultural communities, by offering policies that address their concerns and reflect their aspirations. The party must also address internal issues, including pre-selection processes and leadership, to ensure it is representative and effective. A thorough and independent review is essential to identify areas for improvement and guide the party towards a more relevant and inclusive future. The party needs to evolve and transition from generation to generation to remain relevant to the people it hopes to represent.