If the Liberal party continues to adopt the language of One Nation, we will write the script for our demise, writes Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan. It was a mistake to preference One Nation in Farrer. It’s time to return to our values and help solve the problems Australians face every day.
Reflections on the Farrer Byelection
On Saturday, when observing the booth results reported in Farrer, what came to mind was the opening line of Kipling’s poem ‘If’. To paraphrase, if you keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, you will inherit success.
There will be sober reflections in the Liberal camp, and its longstanding members, such as myself, will do all we can to navigate a path between our own figurative Scylla and Charybdis.
Staying True to Liberal Values
Above all, we must remain true to our values. Many of the very “forgotten people” that Menzies exhorted us to represent now see a better champion in One Nation. Our articulation of these values must seek to renew the public’s confidence in us and in our commitment to solving the problems they face every day.
To achieve this, we must not succumb to the temptation to sound and be like One Nation. Nor be seen as fellow travellers alongside One Nation as part of a broader conservative movement. This would be a betrayal of our values and the death of us in inner-city electorates.
This is not to disregard any legitimate economic concerns of those who voted for One Nation. These concerns are real and must be addressed in our policies.
The Mistake of Preferencing One Nation
Preferencing decisions are always difficult. There were many competing arguments, all having merit. In this instance, I consider it was a mistake to preference One Nation in the seat of Farrer. It signalled to the electorate and the broader Australian community that we accepted their rhetoric. To many, it indicated in the future we might enter into a coalition with them. The consequence was a loss of confidence in the Liberal brand.
One Nation Does Not Share Liberal Values
One Nation does not share our Liberal values, especially our aspirations for all Australians – regardless of where they live, their cultural background or where they may have migrated from. The Liberal movement has never traditionally wanted to recreate supposed past idylls (such as the 1950s, as some would have it), rather it seeks to assist every individual to carve out their own journey in life. This is why we must not entertain any thoughts of a coalition with One Nation. You cannot aspire to govern this country if you tie yourself to an outlook that seeks to divide us into warring tribes.
The Lesson from Sussan Ley
The result also tells us what a great local member Sussan Ley was. It should not be forgotten in all the commentary following the byelection that Sussan held this seat comfortably through nine election cycles. The dramatic decline of our vote demonstrates that electors – upon the departure of Ley – no longer felt tethered to the Liberal party. This should teach us that hard work and confidence in our beliefs, as consistently displayed by Ley, bring reward. Further, this should be the model for us collectively to rebuild public trust in our intentions.
Rejecting a One Nation Outlook
Adopting a One Nation outlook will not win us any friends in our cities. Our initial foray down this path, with the abandonment of net zero and now excessively strong language around migration, has failed and further alienated us from the seats we must win to form government. The Liberal movement has not been one to define itself by what it hates. We should leave this wide road to One Nation. We must define ourselves by what we aspire to achieve for the nation.
Churchill was quoted as saying: “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” There is no lack of enthusiasm in the Liberal party to better the lives of all Australians. We cannot expect Australians to have enthusiasm for us if we no longer want to be ourselves and adopt the language and ways of One Nation. If we choose that path, we allow One Nation to set the agenda and write the script for our demise. As a Liberal, I hope that we can emerge from our dark wood and enjoy success from meeting the Australian people where they are today.
