CANBERRA(AAP) By Dr. Majid Khan-To rebuild after the party suffered an unexpected loss in a by-election, liberals must return to the political heartland and foster a more diverse membership, key figures said.
On Saturday, Aston’s Victorian voters became the first opposition seat held by the government in a state by-election since 1920.
Victorian liberal MP Keith Wallahan – one of only two Liberal Party holders in the greater Melbourne metropolitan area – has listened to voters and grassroots members to give them greater confidence. He said the party would not be seen as a credible alternative to the Labor Party until it was built.
“Our members are getting older,” he said.
“That’s why we need more people, younger, more women, and more people from immigrant backgrounds, to join our party.”
Former union organizer and breast cancer survivor Mary Doyle won her Aston for Labor seat on her 6.5% swing. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Liberals were losing touch with voters over increasingly right-leaning policies driving them out.
He pointed to climate change denial and discussion of transgender rights as part of voter-rejected agendas, and highlighted the image of current Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton as a “far-right cultural warrior.”
“All of this madness has infected the party I used to fight for years, but now these chickens are back to settle down and it’s an election catastrophe,” he said. .
“It’s clear the party needs to go back to the center. It needs to go back to where the voters are.”
Andrew Bragg, a liberal moderate, agreed that the party should not delve into issues on the cultural fringes, but said Dutton had high personal credibility and was a strong leader. rice field. “Some of the side issues that may be profiled from time to time within Congress are a major distraction from our brand,” he said.
“We are well positioned, but now we have to seize our chance to develop some policies and sell them to the Australian people.”
Senator Bragg said the party needs policies on the economy, emissions reductions and housing.
Liberal Senator Dan Tehan said the opposition must break the government honeymoon and focus on putting pressure on the cost of living.
“What we have to do is continue to discuss why the government’s policies are wrong,” he said.
Labor used the historic victory to denounce Mr Dutton’s policies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians viewed the coalition government negatively and rejected any opposition.
“They resisted every initiative,” he said.
“They have to rethink their positions, contribute and be constructive. That’s what Australians expect from an alternative government.”
Wallahan said Dutton has listened to party hall concerns and has worked with the government on important issues since the last election, including working with the government to pass legislation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Liberal lawmakers and senators will meet in Canberra on Wednesday to discuss their positions on the aftermath of the Indigenous referendum and by-election.
