Bridget Archer, Gavin Pearce weigh in on federal Liberals’ election campaign review

Tasmania was the only state in which the Liberal Party recorded a positive swing in the May federal election – and two local MPs have some theories as to why that may have been the case.

The federal Liberals should seek to replicate the electoral success they’ve had in Tasmania across the country by accommodating a broader range of views in the party room, outspoken Bass Liberal MP Bridget Archer says.

Her comments come on the eve of a review into the party’s failed 2022 federal election campaign – which saw Labor win power after close to a decade in the political wilderness.

It’s been reported that a final report of the inquiry, conducted by former Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane and Victorian senator Jane Hume, will be handed down this week.

It’s understood there have been more than 700 submissions to the federal review from party members and elected representatives.

Bridget Archer crossed the floor in the chamber during a censure motion of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, over the secret minister scandal, in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The final report is expected to be handed down before Christmas. It will not be released publicly.

While the Liberal Party suffered a swing of -4.28 per cent nationally, Tasmania bucked the trend as the only state where the party gained some electoral ground, enjoying a +2.31 per cent swing.

Ms Archer this election improved on her minuscule 0.4 per cent margin from 2019, recording a swing of 1.02 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

The other incumbent Liberal in Tasmania was Gavin Pearce in Braddon, who also retained his seat with a +6.22 per cent swing on first preferences.

Ms Archer said the Liberal brand was “strong” in Tasmania, with the party having won a historic three straight elections at the state level.

“I think if you look at the state government here, you’ve got people like [Deputy Premier] Michael Ferguson, who would be a quite conservative Liberal member, and then someone like [Premier] Jeremy [Rockliff] who is a much more moderate or progressive Liberal,” she said.

“And they get on very well and there’s a mutual respect [between them].”

Ms Archer said the core Liberal ideal of the ‘broad church’ was a notion she was “very persuaded” by.

“That’s, of course, going to be electorally popular, as well,” she said. “Because then people can see themselves in their representatives.”

Ms Archer believes the party “can’t remain static” and needs to stop treating climate change, integrity, and women’s rights as “fringe” issues, especially if it is to appeal to a younger demographic.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison and Braddon MP Gavin Pearce at Latrobe Speedway. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Pearce said he had achieved the strongest Coalition swing in the country, attributing his performance to being a “grounded local politician” who was representative of his community.

“I don’t think we’ve been smart in previous governments [on] both sides in choosing our representatives,” he said.

“I think the day is gone when they do a political degree, work for a senator for 10 years and then put their hand up. That’s gone.

“I’m a [person] that left school at 15, I was re-educated by the Department of Defence, who put me back through school. I served the country, I lost my wife at an early age, I brought my young fella up, I’ve run farms and businesses.”

Political analyst Dr Richard Herr agreed with Mr Pearce that the party needed to preselect candidates “who have the ear of their constituency, not necessarily the ones some apparatchiks would like to see in parliament to manage levers of government”.

“I think that they have to at least understand why they had a different result in Tasmania,” he said.

“There are things that you can’t easily replicate on the mainland – we know that.

“But in terms of the popularity of candidates and their electability, [the federal Liberals] certainly could learn something from Tasmania.”

Tasmanian Liberals state director Peter Coulson said the party’s state division was currently conducting a separate review of its own federal campaign, focused on mechanics and tactics rather than broader strategic issues.

Originally published as Bridget Archer, Gavin Pearce weigh in on federal Liberals’ election campaign review