Liberals promise to listen

Australia Broadcast Center

14-05-2025

Sabra Lane: The new Liberal Party Deputy Leader joined me earlier. Ted O'Brien congratulations on winning arguably the second hardest job in Australian politics. What's the most important part of your role now?
Ted O'Brien: Well, I think, Sabra, now is when the Liberal Party comes together and we rebuild. And I think it's recognising that in the Liberal Party room here in Canberra, every single member has something to offer. Everyone has a role to play. And we are deeply united around a common set of values. And it's through those values, and there I'm talking about a belief in freedom, equality, a fair go for all, a belief that with rights come commensurate responsibilities, with effort comes reward. These are the beliefs of everyone in the Liberal Party. Everyone has a role to play. And now we get on with the job at hand.
Sabra Lane: There's now a review into the party's biggest defeat. Why do you think it happened?
Ted O'Brien: Well, as Sussan Ley mentioned yesterday very clearly, our main job now is to listen and to learn. It's critically important that we approach the next period of time with humility. Clearly people were disappointed with what we had to offer at this election. And we need to take the time to listen and to get it right. That's our approach. We need to make sure that we accept the result and we reflect with humility on how we can do things better. We want to go forward respecting modern Australia, reflecting modern Australia and representing modern Australia.
Sabra Lane: You must have some ideas though as to why that happened?
Ted O'Brien: Well, there's no doubt that when the Australian people looked at the Albanese government, we saw no evidence of them being excited. Indeed, Australians are becoming poorer by the day. And when they looked at the coalition, they unfortunately didn't see, Sabra, the policy suite that they wanted to see.
Sabra Lane: You don't have any thoughts right now yourself?
Ted O'Brien: I think what we need to avoid doing, Sabra, is jumping to conclusions. Because as Sussan made it very clear yesterday, we need to meet Australians where they are, which means we need to better understand where Australians are today. What are the challenges they are facing? And instead of, as a political party, jumping to the conclusions that we might think as politicians, now is the time for us to take a step back, to truly engage with the Australian public and to listen to what they tell us about the challenges they are feeling at the moment. That's our objective.
Sabra Lane: You were responsible for selling the nuclear power policy to voters. Did that have a role in the coalition's defeat?
Ted O'Brien: Ultimately, we're a team and we all take responsibility for the last election. And again, it is with that humility that we engage with the Australian people from here on. We listen, we learn, we regroup and we get on with it.
Sabra Lane: So specifically, did the policy on nuclear power also play a role, given that Peter Dutton said last year he was happy for this to be a referendum on the policy?
Ted O'Brien: Well, there's no doubt that every policy plays a role. Now, my colleagues have some different views on nuclear, different views on every policy that was taken to the election. And we need to ensure that we take the time to talk about that, to ventilate it. But we also need to be engaging with the Australian people. I think that the problems that we sought to address in our energy policy are still there today. You know, the election was two weeks ago, but Australians are still paying among the highest prices in the world for electricity. And the Albanese government does not know its own cost for its electricity plan moving forward. And so the problems are still there. I think what we now need to do, Sabra, with humility, is to listen to the Australian people, to regroup as a united team, and to put every single policy we have on the table for review. Now, that doesn't mean, you know, policies are being all thrown out. We had a meeting yesterday to choose the leadership team. We've now chosen that team, and I'm very honoured to be serving with Susan as our leader. And now we'll do the review that's necessary.
Sabra Lane: Is this now an existential question for the Liberals? If you don't sort this problem out in this term, it could be the end.
Ted O'Brien: No, I don't think so. I know people have spoken about, you know, an existential crisis. I don't believe so. Our real goal as the Liberal Party has to be to save Australians from a very bad Labor government.
Sabra Lane: If that was the case, Labor wouldn't be sitting on a 93-seat win.
Ted O'Brien: That is our primary goal, to save Australia from a bad Labor government, which is making Australians poorer by the day.
Sabra Lane: Ted O'Brien, thanks for talking to AM.
Ted O'Brien: Thanks very much, Sabra.
Sabra Lane: And that's Ted O'Brien, the new Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.