Angus Taylor Must Rebuild Liberal Party's Values and Economic Credibility
Tony Barry, a former Liberal strategist, contends that the party's current struggles stem not from individual figures like Sussan Ley or Angus Taylor, but from a deeper disconnect with voters over shared values. While Ley is often scapegoated and Taylor hailed as a potential saviour, the real challenge lies in voters' growing perception that the Liberal Party no longer aligns with their core beliefs.
The Importance of Values Over Policies
In politics, values are foundational, serving as the bedrock upon which policies are built. Voters increasingly seek parties that articulate clear, personally relevant values rather than merely opposing rivals. Barry's research indicates that soft voters struggle to identify who the Liberal Party stands for, instead seeing them primarily as anti-Labor. This shapeless positioning fails to convey a vision for Australia's future, whether in three, ten, or fifty years.
Economic Management: A Fading Advantage
Historically, the Liberal Party leveraged economic management as a key campaign asset, but this equity has eroded. Recent polling shows only 19% of Australians view the Coalition as better economic managers, mirroring their current primary vote share. This decline contrasts sharply with the Howard-Costello era, marked by tax cuts, low inflation, and wage growth. To regain competitiveness, Taylor must rebuild this economic credibility through policies that resonate personally with voters.
Housing Attainability as a Critical Issue
One of the most pressing economic concerns for voters is housing attainability, which has become a new political fault line in Australia. The current tax system punishes income while lightly taxing wealth, particularly in property, leading to generational wealth disparities. This divide fuels voter fragmentation, with non-major party votes rising from 14% in 1996 to 47% in recent polls. Addressing this requires significant income tax cuts for aspirational groups, like Gen Z and Millennials, and a fairer taxation regime for assets.
Embracing a Big Tent Approach
Taylor must adopt a broad, inclusive strategy in the tradition of Menzies and Howard, accepting the party's diversity of views. This means moving away from litmus tests that exclude those who don't conform to specific ideologies. By fostering compromise and acknowledging differences, the Liberal Party can rebuild its "big tent" image, appealing to urban electorates where they currently poll around 20%. A message centered on freedom, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and community prosperity could attract voters back.
Ultimately, without aligning Liberal values with tangible economic policies, the party risks shrinking further. Barry emphasizes that values-based narratives and meaningful engagement on issues like housing are essential for electoral success.
