Warren Mundine, a former Liberal Party minister, attributed the party’s disappointing performance in the 2025 elections to a “weak campaign.” He underscored that the leadership wasn’t responding adequately to urgent challenges. This neglect — particularly as it pertains to Indigenous communities — was a key factor in their ultimate electoral defeat. In the view of a number of party insiders and analysts, this election’s results are part of a larger trend rejecting toxic, divisive campaign tactics.
New opposition leader Peter Dutton has made a bold move. His recent apology for his decision to boycott the 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations. For weeks now, indigenous leaders have been blasting this decision. They maintain his poorly considered First Nations approach has lost them voters. Ken Wyatt, a former Indigenous affairs minister, voiced his concerns about Dutton’s strategy, stating that his “doubling down on culture wars” played a crucial role in the party’s catastrophic election outcomes.
The Liberal Party is taking tremendous heat on its support or opposition to Indigenous issues. Indigenous activist Thomas Mayo signalled for Labor to go even further when it comes to policies for Indigenous people. His criticism of the Coalition’s focus on transient cultural controversies over substantive policy discussion was spot on.
Weak Campaign Strategies
Mundine highlighted serious mistakes in the campaign’s strategic approach that did not connect with younger and diverse voters. He argued that the Liberal Party should have prioritized crime rates and critical issues like education and job opportunities for Indigenous Australians. By failing to talk about these issues, the campaign didn’t just miss a huge opening, they robbed themselves of essential ammunition to connect with voters.
Mayo agreed with Mundine’s remarks, saying the previous Coalition was too focused on punching down rather than raising up communities. He stated, “They are the party that attacks minorities to try and win some votes, and it didn’t work for them this time.” This view underscores a new and dangerous level of anxiety over just how much of the party’s toxic rhetorical approach to this election cycle came home to roost.
Many viewed Dutton’s recent critiques of culturally significant gestures like Welcome to Country as tone-deaf. His declaration that he would refrain from standing in front of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at official press briefings may have further alienated voters who value these symbols of respect and recognition.
Cultural Wars and Leadership Concerns
Wyatt said he was saddened by Dutton’s autocratic leadership style, especially in relation to the treatment of Indigenous affairs during the campaign. He remarked, “I have a view about the way in which the portfolio should be handled. I wouldn’t handle it the way that Jacinta did.” Wyatt’s comments reflect deeper concerns about the party’s direction under Dutton’s guidance.
In the end, the election results showed a stunning lack of foresight on the part of the Coalition. As pollster Kos Samaras said, the party grossly misjudged voters’ feelings. This misconception was clearly on display during the 2023 vote against the Voice. He also said that Coalition didn’t show relevance to women and youth, two make or break voter blocs.
Wyatt added that the election result represented “a repudiation of the divisiveness” that was part of Dutton’s campaign strategy. It’s a sentiment that Senator Kerrynne Liddle expressed just a few days ago. She urged an “era of reflection and review” within the party to recognize and learn from its electoral defeats.
Future Directions for the Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is at a crossroads of self-reflection as it comes to terms with its defeats. Mundine made clear that there are “elephant in the room” and “huge problems” within the Coalition that they need to fix. He urged party members to confront internal “factional fighting” and engage in meaningful “soul-searching” to better align with the needs of their constituents.
In light of these challenges, Mayo emphasized that Dutton’s actions have inadvertently strengthened Labor’s mandate on Indigenous issues. He stated, “He [Mr Dutton] has created a very strong mandate for Labor now that the rejection of the Voice was not a rejection of progress in Indigenous Affairs.” This perspective highlights the need to act in good faith to tackle these difficult issues with honesty and seriousness in the years ahead.
As conversations unfold about the future direction of the Liberal Party, some politicians are still sorely disappointed. Lidia Thorpe lamenting that we didn’t have more independents win in 2025… This sentiment reflects ongoing dissatisfaction with traditional party lines and may indicate a shift toward independent representation in Australian politics.
