When you’re outflanked on the left, you push further to the left at your own peril. Nor can you push to the right, unless you desire to be divided and conquered. The only option is to take control of the ideological battle by regaining the initiative.
The Liberals, at both the state and federal level, have been in this battle since at least John Howard was voted out. While some political ground was made up under Tony Abbott, they’ve lost that and more since the Malcolm Turnbull years.
Morrison and Frydenberg virtually conceded defeat on Liberal values, particularly during the pandemic. The fact Morrison ceded responsibility for the pandemic to the states was most appalling. The Liberals are now all but encircled by their political enemies, with the last mainland stronghold in NSW. Tasmanian politics are unique.
So, what can the Liberal Party do? What does regaining the initiative look like? Well, the end goal would be to retake control over the national conversation, which is presently being dictated by the ideologically bankrupt Left. The problem is accentuated by a largely uncritical fourth estate who’ve bought into the group think.
Sounds simple, right? Well, it is. Or at least it should be.
Contrary to popular belief, most people don’t know what they stand for. If you asked people a few years ago what their top two priorities were, I guarantee you Climate Change and a federal ICAC wouldn’t make it for the vast majority of Australians.
They probably still don’t, but you wouldn’t know that if you use Twitter as a litmus test for the public’s reception of ideas. Frankly, the majority of Australians need to be told what to believe. Fortunately, however, the majority of Australians most strongly resonate with traditional conservative values.
Values like individual responsibility, opportunity, freedom, small government, strong institutions, the importance of family, and equality before the law. Sir Robert Menzies has already done the hard work setting out the party’s values.
What the Liberal Party must do is that every time they wish to propose or reject a policy idea they compare it against their party’s values. If it’s consistent, promote it. If it’s not, reject it.
This is what integrity and transparency looks like, which all peoples claim from their governments. Give the electorate a true opposition to vote for, and control over the national conversation will come naturally.
While political parties come and go, Australia is a young country and the Liberal Party is yet to truly have their day. But, the further the party goes away from their values, let alone to the left, the sooner the party’s Waterloo moment will come.
