It’s up to the Liberal Party to change to attract voters

The Coalition’s latest electoral humiliation should surprise no one. The party never confronted the hard truths after its 2022 defeat. There was no reckoning, no serious reflection, just the quiet hope that voters had somehow made a mistake. I’m a 30-year-old Liberal volunteer and member, soon to be a father of three, paying down a mortgage in suburban Australia. I want my kids to grow up in a country that values enterprise, reward for effort and personal responsibility. But right now, I struggle to even explain what the modern Liberal Party stands for – because too often, it doesn’t seem to stand for people like me. The Liberals must acknowledge the fundamental problem: if the brand of milk it’s selling isn’t what Australians are buying, it’s not their job to change. It’s up to the party. That doesn’t mean abandoning our principles, it means reinterpreting them in a way that resonates. That starts with listening, especially to the young Australians who keep walking away.

Nicholas Green, Everton Hills, Qld

PM’s emphatic win

Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party have achieved an emphatic victory over a now decimated Liberal Party. The losers will be small businesses as trade unions use their power and influence in the ALP to stifle free enterprise. “Mum and dad” investors will suffer as their ability to create wealth through purchasing rental properties will be stifled by yet to be announced increases in property taxes. Young people will eventually be caught in the net of unrealised taxation on their superannuation savings and today’s children, grandchildren and future generations will be saddled with unprecedented levels of government debt. The only bright spot to be found is that the Greens will not hold the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

Riley Brown, Bondi, NSW

Triumph and defeat

After three years and the last five weeks of attacking each other in the daily cut and thrust of politics, both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were very gracious to each other in triumph and defeat.

Stephanie Summers, Turramurra, NSW

Despite the election outcome, Australia is the only English-speaking country that has compulsory voting, with our citizens enjoying the privilege and responsibility of deciding which political party will govern the nation. We take for granted that Australia is the world’s most democratic country where our leaders are ­always chosen by the majority of its people.

Peter Searcy, Mile End, SA

A problem for the kids

The Liberal Party must learn from past mistakes and avoid another crushing defeat. It needs to realise today’s average Australian isn’t interested in balanced budgets, adequate defence or business incentives.

The Liberals need to learn the big lesson from Labor: handouts, not hard work, is the new game in town and that government debt is not a dirty word, just a problem for the kids.

Paul Haege, Darling Point, NSW

Lib or conservative?

This stunning election result is a brutal reality check for Peter Dutton and the Coalition. But the real message is for the LNP machine and the conservative cliques that control it across many local ­branches. These people are deluded in thinking conservative politics has a place in this country. Menzies started his post-war party as a Liberal Party, not a conservative party.

He acknowledged that social change was inevitable, particularly given the social trauma of two world wars and the altered role of women in society. He knew that a political party needed to manage this change, not just dig its heels in.

Mike Seward, Port Fairy, Vic

Boomer era ends

On Saturday the boomer era ended. Our influence over the ­direction, social and political fabric of Australia has run its course. We have transitioned to a country that is being shaped by the newer generations which have significantly different values to the boomers. That’s fine by me – it’s their turn now. But I do not think they are the aspirational generation we were. They have less concern about debt and they want a big-spending government to support them through life. With respect, they are much more self-centred and less concerned about the wider prosperity of the country. Again, that’s fair enough: it’s their call. The spiralling national debt does not seem to bother them, nor does the longer-term consequences it will have on their children in the future.

Paul Clancy, Adelaide, SA

Campaign blues

The election result poses the question of why, with so much good ammunition to fire, the Coalition lost so badly. An unfocused campaign didn’t help, but the big cause was the constant stream of Labor lies about everything from the real budget position to the reasons for rising energy prices and the costs of living. It augurs poorly for the country that the lies and character assassinations were so readily ­accepted by the majority.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT

Boys’ club

It will be interesting now if the Liberals Party can abandon its boy’s club mentality and realise it needs a woman to lead them. They must regain the women’s vote. Many think like I do that Sussan Ley would be, for many reasons, the perfect choice. In 2019, the Liberals failed to see that Julie Bishop should have been selected. The Liberal Party simply must attract the women’s vote, as well as the vote of others, by electing a female leader. If they fail again to see this is the way forward, they will remain in an opposition wilderness.

Loretta Edmonston, Ballarat, Vic

I would like to congratulate those who voted Labor back into power for their resounding victory. There is, however, an old saying, that says: “You reap what you sow.”

I believe this will be the case with the Albanese government. In three years’ time Australia will probably vote in a new Coalition to repair the quickly deteriorating economy, and then complain bitterly when drastic measures are required to fix an economy that is, by then, a basket case. They will then refuse to take the medicine required and we will sit alongside an economy like Argentina.

Ross Dillon, Murrumba Downs, Qld

Gracious in defeat

Congratulations to Peter Dutton for taking responsibility for the Coalition’s defeat. Applause to both Dutton and Anthony Albanese, too, for gracious speeches. A shout out to the vast majority of voters, who cast their votes without fuss or abuse. Well done to the Australian Electoral Commission, which ran the election in the fair and efficient manner that we have come to expect. Our democracy is imperfect, but it is still the envy of the world.

John Hughes, Mentone, Vic

A principled stand

Although it was a disastrous election result for the Liberals, Peter Dutton can still hold his head high. A former cop on the beat and successful businessman, Dutton held the seat of Dickson for 24 years, held many distinguished ministerial posts under four prime ministers and, while as leader of the party he didn’t have the whatever-it-takes mindset of his opponent, that was not a bad thing. Indeed, Dutton’s opposition to the voice was principled – his primary concern being it would “undermine our equality of citizenship”, his promotion of nuclear energy sensible and his support for Israel unequivocal. His concession speech taking full responsibility for the party’s wipe-out was a masterclass in humility and grace. Enjoy the next phase of your life, Peter Dutton.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

Quaffing champers

I can think of one group of clear-cut winners who will reap a bonanza from the election result, those that lend the money to Anthony Albanese to fund his spendthrift panoply of election policies. They must be now in a celebratory mood and quaffing the finest of French champagne.

Dennis Walker, North Melbourne, Vic

Buyer’s remorse

Before anyone gets carried away about the Coalition’s defeat and Labor’s victory, it’s prudent to look across the ditch. In 2017, ­Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party were surprisingly elected to govern with a minority government reliant on support from two minor parties, including the Greens. So enamoured with Ardern’s government were voters, in 2020 Labour went on to a landslide victory in 2020 with an outright majority.

Three years later the Labour government was resoundingly beaten, losing 30 seats and government.

Buyer’s remorse is not confined to goods and services.

Geoff Ellis, Smithfield, Qld

Spared minority

After a spectacularly underwhelming election campaign, an unexpected majority Labor government has arrived. The Coalition failed to address the many current problems; it’s no wonder its support fell, and the leader was voted out. The Labor alternative was little better, with a campaign based on distortions and outright lies. Compare this with events in Britain, where local council elections produced a landslide for the Reform Party, a party clearly supporting traditional values. This swing to the right, already seen in Europe and the US, should have emboldened the Coalition to stand up and be counted. At least we are spared a minority government, with a green tail wagging the red dog!

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld