Shannon Deery: It’s time the Libs decide whether they want to be a government-in-waiting or simply a debating club for the disillusioned

The Victorian Liberals appear paralysed by cowardice. Dan Andrews knew exactly how to get them to cannibalise themselves, and can do it from beyond the political grave.

For the Victorian Liberals, there are lessons to be learnt from Daniel Andrews’ controversial China visit last week.

1. It’s time to stop letting Dan live rent-free inside your heads.

2. Grow a spine.

The first is a hurdle the size of which the Opposition will probably never be able to jump.

There are lessons to be learnt from Daniel Andrews’ controversial China visit.

Like the victim of a schoolyard bully, the Libs seem destined to be forever haunted by the three successive electoral bashings Dan dished out between 2014 and 2022.

He taunted them from Spring St as premier, knowing exactly how to get them to cannibalise themselves, and can do it from beyond the political grave too.

The second is not only possible, but vital to their own chances of electoral success.

Two weeks ago, the Libs tore themselves in pieces after backbencher Ann-Marie Hermans likened Andrews to soviet dictator Stalin.

Instead of working out a way to get behind Hermans, colleagues distanced themselves and publicly rebuked the statements.

Andrews was likened to soviet dictator Stalin. Picture: Jason Edwards

At a partyroom meeting, Hermans and Moira Deeming, who led a debate about a planned statue honouring Andrews in which the Stalin comment was made, were hauled over the coals.

The partyroom went weak at the knees because, oh the shock, they copped some heat from their political enemies in Labor.

The same political enemies who themselves have used comparisons to Stalin to denigrate the Greens.

A quick search of Hansard shows Stalin’s name has come up time and again, without the faux outrage that saw the Libs capitulate to.

But scared of the political dogfight, they fell to their knees and reverted to type, warring with themselves instead of putting on a united front.

And yet some of the same MPs who rebuked Hermans were quick to jump on the “Dictator Dan” bandwagon last week, when he was compared to murderous dictators in Beijing.

Where was the outrage or distancing then?

Many Lib MPs were quick to jump on the ‘Dictator Dan’ bandwagon. Picture: Sky News

They’re not yet in Stalin’s league, but it hardly matters, the comparisons are similar.

Its hard to quantify Putin’s direct or indirect death toll, but he has cracked down on dissent, independent media, and his political opponents.

The invasion of Ukraine has led to massive civilian casualties and war crimes allegations.

His legacy so far is one of repression at home and destabilisation abroad.

Kim Jong-un enforces complete control over society, with no freedom of expression or movement.

Gulags, torture, executions, famine and forced labour are hallmarks of his regime, with hundreds of thousands to millions affected by famine and repression.

Xi Jinping has crushed political dissent, increased surveillance and is expanding China’s authoritarian model abroad.

None is on Stalin’s scale, but each foster serious abuses affecting millions.

The Stalin comment, and fallout, highlighted an enduring problem for the Victoria Liberal Party.

Too often, because of an inability to land, and stay on a position, it appears rudderless with no direction, target or coherent message.

We’ve seen it time and again, from the Suburban Rail Loop to Treaty.

A position is floated, there’s public pushback, and the position is altered.

But it’s time the Libs decide whether they want to be a government-in-waiting or simply a debating club for the disillusioned.

While the Allan government should be on the ropes, bogged down by soaring crime, health system issues and the economic burden of the post-pandemic state it created, they’re not.

The Libs appear paralysed by cowardice.

We see it in their fear of challenging its own shrinking base to stand for anything that might actually win broad public support.

Instead we get vague outrage, empty populism, and the occasional reheated press release.

In recent weeks, the Libs have really ramped up their promise to introduce a “break bail, face jail” policy.

It’s clever because crime is a critical issue right now.

But it’s also slightly disingenuous in that we already have “break bail, face jail” laws in this state.

They could be tweaked, but to continually spout that only the Liberals and Nationals will do this, as they have been, is false.

It’s not as though there are no good ideas in the party’s ranks. There are smart Liberals who understand that the road back to power is in speaking to the real concerns of modern Victorians – cost of living, health system strain, education quality, infrastructure delivery and crime.

But these voices are too often sidelined by internal politics.

The Liberal Party was once the natural party of government in Victoria championing infrastructure, public transport and responsible economic management.

Figures such as Rupert Hamer and Jeff Kennett weren’t perfect, but they governed with purpose and a clear sense of direction.

Today’s leadership seems too timid to even say what it believes in, let alone fight for it.

If the Liberals want to win again, they need to do more than just wait for Labor to implode. They need to grow a spine – and quickly.