Sky News Australia’s documentary Liberals in Power outlines downfall

A new documentary will take a deep dive into the Coalition’s nine years in government, with key players — including former female MPs — outlining just what went wrong for the Liberals.

The Liberal Party’s much-­debated “women problem” was caused as much by internal tension within the party and external forces such as activist group GetUp! as it was by conservative forces in the party, a new documentary will reveal.

Over two nights next week, Sky News Australia will present Liberals in Power, taking a deep dive into the Coalition’s nine years in government and the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison prime ministerships from 2013-2022.

Next Monday, viewers will hear from key players including former female MPs about just what went wrong for the Liberals, and why as documentary host Chris Kenny points out, the Coalition went from holding 15 of the nation’s 30 seats with the most professional women before the last election to just three of those seats today.

Giving an exclusive interview from her family farm in South Australia, former Liberal MP Nicolle Flint said that activist groups which had specifically targeted her played a role in driving her from politics.

“The horrific sexist vandalism of my office was completely demoralising,” she said of vile graffiti which was plastered on her electorate office during the 2019 election campaign.

Former South Australian MP Nicolle Flint. Picture: John Feder

Sky News Australia documentary host Chris Kenny.

The documentary also looks at how former education minister Alan Tudge’s affair with his staffer Rachelle Miller was “weaponised” by his enemies — including former PM Malcolm Turnbull and the ABC’s Four Corners — and how that contributed to the downfall of both Mr Tudge and former attorney-general Christian Porter.

Other players, including former Liberal MP Fiona Scott, point to cultural issues, saying it is “easy to weaponise” charges of sexism “when they continue to happen”.

Former minister Alan Tudge with staffer Rachelle Miller. Picture: ABC/Four Corners

Brittany Higgins’ claims of rape at the hands of fellow Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who had his single charge of sexual assault dropped and continues to vigorously deny the allegations, also created “fallout” that was “far-reaching” thanks to a “hit job” orchestrated by Labor and sympathetic journalists, the documentary reveals.

It also details how Ms Higgins’ former employer, then-defence minister Linda Reynolds, was the subject of a withering attack at the hands of Labor’s so-called “mean girls”, senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher.

Ms Reynolds describes how she was warned that Labor was going to “rain hell” on her through a “relentless pursuit” based on lies that took a toll on her mental and physical health.

Senators Wong and Gallagher have strongly denied any foreknowledge of the matter involving Ms Higgins.

Lormer Liberal MP Fiona Scott with then-prime minister Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP Image

Kenny said that despite the turmoil that characterised its most recent turn in government, the Liberals managed to navigate the country through some immense challenges and chalk up historic wins, including the AUKUS pact.

“That this unfolded while the nation grappled with an ominous strategic environment when an increasingly belligerent China targeted Australia, and while we grappled with a once-in-a-generation pandemic challenge, only raised the stakes and made the drama more compelling,” he said.

“These governments delivered significant achievements for the nation, but in the end the Liberal Party is left to do some serious soul-searching about its future.”

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Sky News Australia’s documentary Liberals in Power outlines downfall