The Liberal Party's brand has become so toxic, marred by internal divisions, electoral defeats, and a drift from core conservative principles, that it's bordering on irreparable.
In just two years, the South American country has seen the value of its financial assets nearly triple and its poverty rate drop by 10 percentage points, all during a period of strict fiscal tightening and austerity. Why haven’t other Western nations had the courage to follow?
Because a change of heart from the Coalition isn't enough to undo the economic vandalism already unleashed and end the madness.
The Liberal Party's brand has become so toxic, marred by internal divisions, electoral defeats, and a drift from core conservative principles, that it's bordering on irreparable.
In the ever-shifting landscape of Australian politics, the Liberal Party appears to be undergoing a peculiar transformation at the state level.
Recent leadership changes in Victoria and New South Wales have seen first-term female MPs elevated to top positions, with similar whispers emerging in South Australia.
This pattern raises questions about the party's strategic direction and the underlying forces at play.
In Victoria, Jess Wilson, a Kew MP elected just three years ago in 2022, was thrust into the leadership role following a no-confidence vote against Brad Battin. Wilson, a moderate with a background in policy advisory roles, became the first woman to lead the state's Liberal opposition.
Her pitch has focused on issues like home ownership for young Victorians, but her rapid ascent from backbencher to leader underscores a preference for fresh faces over seasoned operators.
Similarly, in New South Wales, Kellie Sloane, another first-term MP from Vaucluse, with a career in television journalism rather than deep political trenches, was elected unopposed as leader after Mark Speakman's ousting.
Sloane has vowed a "fresh start," emphasising her potential to reconnect with voters disillusioned by the Coalition's recent performance.
Now, speculation is rife in South Australia that Ashton Hurn, the shadow health minister and yet another first-term female MP from the 2022 intake, could soon replace Vincent Tarzia amid disastrous internal polling and party unrest.
Despite Hurn publicly affirming her support for Tarzia, senior agitators are reportedly positioning her as a "saviour," with some even divvying up spoils from shadow portfolios in anticipation.
This would mark a third instance in quick succession where the Liberals turn to inexperienced women to helm state divisions.
At first glance, these moves might seem like a progressive nod to gender diversity or a bid for renewal.
But a closer examination reveals a more troubling rationale.
The Liberal Party's brand has become so toxic, marred by internal divisions, electoral defeats, and a drift from core conservative principles, that it's bordering on irreparable.
Federal woes, including challenges to Sussan Ley's deputy leadership, only amplify this.
In desperation, the party is opting for untested leaders who can project an image of change without the baggage of past failures.
Crucially, these promotions are being driven by the party's left-leaning faction, the so-called moderates who have long pursued policies more aligned with progressive agendas than traditional liberalism.
In Victoria and NSW, Wilson's and Sloane's moderate credentials, supportive of net-zero targets and social reforms, align with this group, which has been blamed for much of the party's internal strife and electoral erosion.
By elevating figures like them, the left faction consolidates control, sidelining conservatives and perpetuating the very divisions that have hollowed out the Liberals' base.
This strategy also serves a darker purpose: it allows the "faceless men" – those shadowy lobbyists and powerbrokers who profit from influence-peddling – to maintain their grip.
Inexperienced leaders, however capable, are more susceptible to manipulation in the cutthroat world of party politics.
Without the battle-hardened instincts of veterans, they become proxies for vested interests, ensuring that real decision-making remains behind closed doors.
The Liberal Lobbyists who cash in from peddling influence thrive in this environment, steering policy toward lucrative (for them) outcomes rather than the public good.
The Liberals' predicament is self-inflicted.
Years of compromising on issues like climate policy and identity politics have alienated their heartland, leaving them scrambling for optics over substance.
If this trend continues with Hurn in SA, it may buy time, but it won't rebuild trust.
True renewal demands confronting the factional rot and recommitting to principles that once defined the party.
Until then, these leadership gambits risk being little more than window dressing on a crumbling facade.
"Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy of government by pressure groups.
Its methods range from mere social courtesies and cocktail-party or luncheon "friendships" to favours, threats, bribes, blackmail."
- Ayn Rand
In just two years, the South American country has seen the value of its financial assets nearly triple and its poverty rate drop by 10 percentage points, all during a period of strict fiscal tightening and austerity. Why haven’t other Western nations had the courage to follow?
Because a change of heart from the Coalition isn't enough to undo the economic vandalism already unleashed and end the madness.
The left shut down a debate on banning the burqa, then demanded such a ban when Pauline Hanson wore one in the Senate.
Persistence is paying off for Pauline Hanson and One Nation.
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