Ley, Littleproud at loggerheads as Liberals call for radical inquiry into party's future
Loading
Highlighting the Nationals' keenness for nuclear power over renewables as the energy grid is weaned off coal, McKenzie told this masthead it would be 'against the national interest' to drop nuclear power 'if we are serious about staying an industrial economy and reducing emissions'.
'Obviously, our country is best served by a strong Nationals-and-Liberals Coalition government, but the establishment of a coalition between the Liberal and National parties is never a foregone conclusion,' she said.
'As evidenced by the alliance relationship in WA and historic periods of separation in Victoria, the Nationals are always prepared to put our regional communities first.'
Ley held a press conference after her meeting with Littleproud and batted away questions on whether the parties should cut formal ties to allow the Liberals to rebuild with a focus on city-based voters.
'There were productive conversations about a range of matters, but very, very convivial, very friendly, and obviously, as I will always say, matters that the Nationals discuss in their party room are for them, and matters that the Liberal Party discuss in our party room are for us,' she said.
The task of carving up the spoils of defeat carries less weight than the job of rebuilding the Liberal Party after an election rout that cast doubt on its viability as an election-winning outfit.
Influential Queensland senator James McGrath is leading the charge for what he called a special commission of inquiry into the party's reason for existence. He has been backed by former MP and NSW division president Jason Falinski.
McGrath declared the commission must be a more profound probing of the party than normal election reviews, adding that the process should not descend into blame-shifting.
'The party needs to get its shit together,' McGrath said in an interview.
'This is not about shifting right or left,' he added, pointing to the regeneration in the British Conservatives in the 2000s that focused on making core values relevant to a modern society.
McGrath said the party had the time for a national inquiry run by a mix of party elders, elected MPs, volunteer leaders and centre-right thought leaders, with public and closed hearings.
As evidenced by the Conservatives' demise in Scotland, McGrath, who worked in British politics, said there were no guarantees the Liberal Party would remain a party permanently able to form a majority government.
Loading
'Australia is changing, but my belief is our values are timeless. But why is it that women are not supporting us and, apart from some Baby Boomers, we are losing votes?' he said.
'When we lose, it isn't just us losing –Australians suffer. It's in the national interest that the Liberal Party take a long look at itself.'
Falinski floated that the commission should be led by MPs such as McGrath, defeated Liberal Keith Wolahan, campaign specialists such as Sir Lynton Crosby, digital campaigner Nick Palmer, and prominent Liberal women who can generate ideas to reverse the party's perception problem among white-collar and young women.
Falinski said the party needed to overhaul its use of data and software to reach its desired audience; refocus on core principles around growing the economic pie rather than dividing it; get better at telling compelling human stories that underpin policies; and find new design and content making tools to make its messaging more resonant.
'On the commission, I have a very strong view that whoever is on it should not be afraid to point out the number of conflicts of interest between senior office bearers and vendors providing services to the Liberal Party,' he said.
'The makeup of the commission should be people who have both experience and are not afraid to consider the unthinkable and get on with the job of making the party better rather than covering up who is to blame.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
China's $1 billion ‘British' town is as bonkers as it sounds
Back in 2006 when Tony Blair was PM, over in China, the first residents were moving into Thames Town. A purpose-built suburban community outside Shanghai, Thames Town had a unique selling point: it was a copycat British market town right down to its mock-Tudor homes, red phone booths, fish and chip shop and Gothic Revival church. Part of a state-backed plan to relieve pressure on Shanghai's swelling city centre, Thames Town didn't take off. Homes were sold, but largely to investors, and most remained empty. The promise of an idealised British-style community – of pints in the pub and boating on the ornamental lake – quietly faded. After that, according to online reports, Thames Town became something of a tourist oddity, and found a new lease of life as a backdrop for wedding photos. Now, nearly two decades on, I decided to take a look.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
China's $1 billion ‘British' town is as bonkers as it sounds
Back in 2006 when Tony Blair was PM, over in China, the first residents were moving into Thames Town. A purpose-built suburban community outside Shanghai, Thames Town had a unique selling point: it was a copycat British market town right down to its mock-Tudor homes, red phone booths, fish and chip shop and Gothic Revival church. Part of a state-backed plan to relieve pressure on Shanghai's swelling city centre, Thames Town didn't take off. Homes were sold, but largely to investors, and most remained empty. The promise of an idealised British-style community – of pints in the pub and boating on the ornamental lake – quietly faded. After that, according to online reports, Thames Town became something of a tourist oddity, and found a new lease of life as a backdrop for wedding photos. Now, nearly two decades on, I decided to take a look.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Get on with the job' after failed bid to turf premier
Tasmania's returned minority Liberal premier has declared he wants to get on the with job after a snap election and weeks of political uncertainty. Jeremy Rockliff received parliament's green light to continue governing on Tuesday afternoon when a Labor bid to seize power via a no-confidence motion fell spectacularly flat. Neither the Liberals (14 seats) or Labor (10) reached the required 18 seats needed for majority at the July 19 election. Labor, which has been in opposition for 11 years, tried to unseat Mr Rockliff as premier and install its leader Dean Winter in the role on parliament's first day back. But none of the cross bench, which includes five Greens, five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP, backed Mr Winter's motion. Several crossbenchers lashed Mr Winter for a lack of compromise during negotiations and for still moving a motion that was doomed to fail after the Greens ruled out support on Monday. The Greens and several independents noted they lacked faith in the Liberals, but has less faith that Labor could form a workable government. First-term independent and former journalist Peter George said Labor had undermined the very notion of collaboration by not shifting on any of its policies. "In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government," he said. Labor received its worst primary vote in more than a century at the election and suffered a 3.1 per cent swing against it. Mr Rockliff, who has presided over a minority government since 2023, said MPs had learnt a lot in recent weeks. "The time to get on with the job, to work together in the best interests of Tasmania, starts right now," he said. The Liberals made several policy concessions to a largely progressive cross bench, including a ban on greyhound racing and a review examining the state's salmon industry. Mr Winter accused Mr Rockliff of selling out jobs and doing anything to stay in power. Mr Rockliff defended the concessions as an acknowledgement of the minority situation. The snap election, Tasmania's fourth in seven years, was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion in June criticising the state's ballooning budget debt. The Greens offered at that point to work with Labor to form government, but Mr Winter refused.
