Ken Wyatt, who made history in 2019 as the first Indigenous Australians minister, has delivered a grim message to his former Liberal party. He challenges them to “stop sleeping” and adopt a broader, more inclusive agenda. Wyatt’s commentary comes in light of his resignation from the Liberal Party in 2023 following its decision to oppose the Voice referendum. Most notably, he stressed the party’s profound difficulties, particularly in Western Australia. There, it has suffered its three worst electoral losses in recent state surveys.
Wyatt, who lost his new seat of Hasluck at the last federal election, said he was alarmed by the party’s declining electoral support. He pointed out that the Liberals have now been shut out of five seats in the last two federal elections. Currently, they are only realistically campaigning to win one seat, Bullwinkel, in Western Australia. This anti-urban trend exposes the widening chasm between the party and the American public.
A Call for Change
In his critique, Wyatt underlined the need for the Liberal Party to reconnect with communities. He encouraged them to engage with the public to motivate real change. He suggested holding a tentative series of round table charette forums. The idea would be to have these forums consist of randomly selected groups that authentically mirror the diversity of their communities.
“What I would do if I was the Liberal Party now is I’d hold a series of round table forums with select groups that reflect our community and seek their input as to what they should change and how they would be more appealable,” – Ken Wyatt
Wyatt emphasized that without engagement, change would be a futile task. He criticized the party’s historical reluctance to accept input from women and other marginalized groups, stating, “If they don’t engage then you’re not going to change.” He argues that whoever’s at the helm, they need to recognize the value of diverse viewpoints. If they are brave enough, they are capable of restoring trust and relevance to Australian politics.
Issues of Inclusivity
The comments by the former minister echoed the sentiments of retiring senator Linda Reynolds. She pointed to the party’s continued struggle in bringing more women in, both as voters and candidates. Wyatt explained that he had seen women in the party propose creative solutions that were just as frequently ignored.
“I have seen it in my party when I was a member, women offering ideas but the ideas not being accepted,” – Ken Wyatt
He firmly asserted, “We cannot do that. They are not sandwich makers. They are equal leaders.” He sees inclusivity as something deeper than justice. It’s not only a community respect thing, it’s a key strategy for the party’s survival and success.
Wyatt pointed out that WA Premier Roger Cook is capable of two more terms. This will only be the case if the Liberal Party continues to ignore their internal problems. He argued that another post-election review would be “redundant,” as numerous previous reviews have already provided actionable recommendations that have yet to be implemented.
Future Prospects
And perhaps most importantly, the currently governing Liberal Party is determinedly confronting its own failures. In 2021, it implemented the ‘Blueprint 2025’ program to improve incoming campaigns. In Wyatt’s view, such efforts have not been enough to turn around their increasingly grim prospects in WA.
Still, he is deeply skeptical about the party’s current trajectory. He argues that they need to take a broader, inclusionary view to earn back voters’ trust. The party’s recent struggles highlight a broader challenge within Australian politics: the need for parties to adapt to changing societal norms and expectations.
