Andrew Constance, the former New South Wales Minister and Liberal Party candidate, has emphasized the need for his party to reconcile its progressive and conservative factions following his defeat in the recent election for the NSW south coast seat. Constance, who lost his seat by a whisker to Labor’s Fiona Phillips in 2022, is recontesting his former seat. She knows the Liberal Party cannot afford to be divided if it is to address the issues facing all Australians.
In a rematch as close as they come, Constance challenged Phillips again after losing by just 373 votes. This time, he was not only faced with a daunting political fight, but on the ropes health-wise. Understanding Constance’s medical journey In August 2022, Constance experienced a “widowmaker” heart attack that resulted in a coronary artery bypass graft. For three months leading up to this event, he was experiencing severe malaise. It was during that procedure that he found out three of his arteries were blocked, one artery 99 percent blocked.
Health Scare and Its Impact
While it could have been a tragic ending, Constance’s heart attack was actually the beginning of a new journey. He told me it was “scary, really scary” which led him to change his focus and priorities on running a campaign. His health problems were very much a factor in his poor campaign performance. He became fatigued and ill in the days leading up to the early voting period.
Even with these hurdles, Constance stayed true to his campaign and was loud in his opposition to Labor’s renewable energy efforts. He did admit that the Liberal Party’s approach to environmental issues could use some serious recalibrating. “We’re not an anti-environment party, we should be a pro-environment party,” he stated, suggesting that the party must adapt to the changing political landscape and public sentiment.
Reconnecting with Voters
As he contemplates this electoral defeat, Constance identified key battlegrounds where the Liberal Party faltered to connect with voters. He particularly pointed to the party’s disconnect with women and youth. “We have let the women of Australia down, quite frankly,” he admitted. He highlighted the pressing need to re-engage Asian and Hispanic voters, both groups whose support will be key to ensuring the party’s future electoral success.
Come this election cycle, that support for Constance has decreased by over 7 percent. This recent move is indicative of a larger schism between the party and its base. He emphasized that “we have a lot of work to do to re-engage the aspirations of young people, and women in particular.” His comments highlight a crucial electoral dilemma for the Liberal Party. If anything, they have even more ground to recover after losing ground with these key voting demographics.
The Path Forward for the Liberal Party
Constance encouraged his fellow GOP legislators to find the middle and work together on shared values. “Everyone coming together is really important — be a Liberal first and foremost, be a progressive or conservative underneath that, but get the best out of each other,” he asserted. His call for unity emphasizes that internal divisions could hinder the party’s ability to present a cohesive platform to voters.
Thirdly, Constance rightly noted that the Liberal Party needs to do the hard yards to find its “heart and soul” again. He was clear that there are gaps to fill and lessons to learn from this electoral cycle as well. “To be honest, we probably looked a little mean,” he reflected, indicating that perceptions play a significant role in shaping public opinion.
