A few days after its electoral defeat, the Liberal Party has announced the terms of its post-election review, focusing on the loss of seats to the “teal” independents and the problems in the pre-election process.
Key points:
- Former Liberal director Brian Loughnane and former Retirement Minister Jane Hume will lead the review
- They say they will seek the views of members of the entire party
- Conducting a post-election review is a common practice for all political parties
It will also consider how the party can expand its appeal, looking specifically at how it behaved among different demographic groups of voters.
Former party director Brian Loughnane and former retirement minister Jane Hume will lead the review.
The party has lost 18 seats to Labor, the Greens and the Green Independents, and Deakin’s seat is too close to be called.
All parties conduct regular post-election reviews, focusing on both what worked and what failed.
But the loss of formerly secure Liberal seats such as Mackellar, Curtin, Kooyong, Goldstein and North Sydney by the independents will be a specific focus.
Moderate Liberal MPs, such as former finance minister Simon Birmingham, have suggested that the loss of those seats is the “strongest message” of the electoral defeat.
Liberal Senator Jane Hume is jointly leading the review. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
When asked about his losses, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the campaigns in those seats “brutal”.
“They were very vicious and very brutal campaigns, talking about them with my colleagues,” he told Nine Radio.
“They played very hard on the ground. Politics can be a tough and brutal business.”
Election news:
Review to see preselection issues
The Liberals’ campaign was initially hampered by major pre-selection issues in New South Wales.
Candidates for a number of key seats, including those of former immigration minister Alex Hawke and Sussan Ley, a favorite for the role of deputy liberal leader, were confirmed just days before the election.
Former party director Brian Loughnane will co-lead the review. (Andrew Taylor: AAP)
Preselections in a dozen seats were determined after a federal takeover of the process, denying the floor to grassroots members.
And very late pre-elections denied candidates an early start to their campaigns, which often begin months before the election is called.
While this process was used to secure the pre-election of incumbent MPs like Mr Hawke and Mrs Ley, it was also used to confirm the pre-election of controversial Warringah candidate Katherine Deves.
Independent candidate Zali Steggell defeated Liberal candidate Katherine Deves in Warringah. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
Some Liberal Party figures, including NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, called for Ms. You must be rejected during the campaign for your comments about transgender people.
Senator Birmingham has suggested that Deves’ candidacy damaged the campaigns of moderate liberals running in neighboring seats.
Analysis by our experts:
In a joint statement, Mr Loughnane and Mr Hume said they wanted input from the whole party.
“We will consult widely with all parties in the party,” they said.
“We welcome contributions from all party members and encourage presentations from all those involved in the campaign.”
Electoral basics:
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