Meanwhile, the Liberal Party in Western Australia are in the midst of deep soul-searching after a spate of disappointing electoral outcomes. The party’s struggles have culminated in its worst performance in recent history, with three consecutive losses prompting an introspective analysis. This post-mortem lays bare the profound disconnects between the party’s traditional base and its current policy agenda. Recently criticized for the backsliding of his party, party leader Peter Dutton has come under fire. He’s promised to “learn” and “rebuild” in the aftermath of such dismal results.
The outcome left the Liberal Party’s Western Australian branch badly fractured in the wake of the 2021 state election. They documented these challenges in a new, in-depth report. Beyond the immediate shock of the results, this review pointed towards disturbing patterns, among them an alienation from the party’s traditional base. The report pointed out that “poorly considered policies” played a major role in the Party’s electoral disasters. It was a big shift from their previous messaging, and as they acknowledged, their party’s messaging was confused and understood but not resonant.
A Historical Perspective
The recent election history of the Liberal Party has resembled a train wreck. The party has suffered through its three consecutive worst electoral results in history. Consequently, many of their members are feeling despondent as they see their usual areas of strength crumbling. Labor snatched the seat of Moore, territory that the party had occupied for almost three decades. This change reflects a broader trend of waning clout.
Even the intervention of former Federal Liberal MP Vince Connelly was not enough to avert this calamity. This result further sheds light on the growing fragility within the party. The situation wasn’t unique to Moore; candidates up and down the state’s ballot faced challenges making themselves known to voters. Labor Tom White targeted the blue-ribbon seat of Curtin, but lost to teal independent Kate Chaney by 3.5%. This result underscores the long odds Liberal candidates are fighting today.
On the whole, though, despite these notable setbacks, 2023 was a bright spot for the party. Andrew Hastie was able to increase his margin by 3.6 percent in Canning, showing that there are still pretty deep pockets of support out there. Additionally, two regional seats, O’Connor and Durack, swung significantly toward the Liberal Party, signaling that not all hope is lost.
Criticism and Calls for Change
Dutton’s drift to the right of the political spectrum has drawn heavy criticism and pointed barbs from within his own party. A former Coalition minister stated, “There’s been a lack of policy, and the ones they have produced haven’t filled out the gaps, like on nuclear, on gas, or they’ve left it too late, like defence.” This sentiment exemplifies more general frustration with an absence of powerful, unifying strategies that appeal to voters.
The state party’s most recent full post-mortem further elaborated on these failures, suggesting that the party’s future direction “appeared to rest entirely with the leader.” Many members expressed frustration at the disconnect between party policies and community needs. As Dutton moves to fulfill demands for change, he can’t sidestep these concerns if the party wants to get on solid ground again.
Shane Love, leader of the state’s Nationals, likened their situation to that of a drug addict realizing the need for change. “It’s like a drug addict finally realising they have to change,” Love said. This comparison underscores the urgency many feel regarding the party’s need for reform.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the path forward for the Liberal Party is steep as it looks to re-establish its coalition of support and craft a new policy agenda. The Bullwinkel seat by-election, scheduled for next week, is shaping up to be the party’s best chance to win back accomplished ground. Expectations are tempered by previous failures. Liberal members had anticipated winning this seat as a minimum result but must now confront reality.
Labor’s Sam Lim pulled off a stunning victory over a senior Liberal Minister in Tangney. The seat was the Liberals’ number one target, but Lim’s win was convincing. It was enough to lead to some serious soul searching amongst the party faithful who had gathered at Tom White’s election night function with hanging heads.
