Liberals must ignore doomsayers and stick to their core values

Paul Kelly delivers a sobering assess­ment of the Liberal Party’s fortunes right now (“Libs’ act of self-harm risks party’s extinction”, 26/11). Those who bat for it – in my case for 50 years, including as a state president – are indeed at a low ebb. We remain true believers, however, in the way we did in the 1980s and early ’90s, when the party lost five consecutive elections to the Hawke-Keating juggernaut, and during the first term of the Rudd government, when it churned through leaders before settling on Tony Abbott.

With each election loss in these periods the Liberal Party’s epitaph was often written. Kelly says the party has lost “Middle Australia”. It’s what happens to the vanquished at an election and it’s not exclusive to the Liberal Party.

Its task right now is to stay true to its principles: to argue for small government, to offer reward for effort and to empower the individual. It is certainly not to tread the path of its Victorian cousin in a vain attempt to emulate Labor.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

Paul Kelly appears to overlook the growing divergence of views, both here and overseas, on whether to stick strictly with the prevailing net-zero orthodoxy or to consider a pathway more palatable to financially strapped citizens.

The constant “tsk tsk” admonishing from those prepared to accept, almost unquestioningly, that our energy investments have gone, and continue to go, down a huge hole, with few results, invites only us-and-them arguments.

The voices of those looking at ameliorating today’s climate change policies to something they can handle are growing more insistent they be heard, and the Liberals, rather than exiting, are listening.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

Paul Kelly rightly points out that an economic narrative provides the pathway back to relevance for the Liberal Party.

The economy is an obvious space for much-needed reform with direct impact on the hip pocket of voters. Economic policy used to be the pillar of strength for the Liberal Party.

One should always play to one’s strengths. Tax cuts and productivity reform will cut through at the ballot box. Forget about being Labor-lite or Hanson-lite, just get ready to govern for the entire nation.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Paul Kelly is right. By rejecting net zero, the Liberals are alienating mainstream Australia and relegating themselves to the opposition benches for years to come. How is that good for the party or for democracy?

Ken Enderby, Concord, NSW

At last, Sussan Ley has gone on the attack with a nice touch of sarcasm. The Prime Minister and “part-time” Energy Minister should read the room. Keep up the good work, Sussan.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba, Qld

These are the three questions that the Coalition must put to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Labor politicians at every opportunity.

What is the total dollar spend on the energy transition thus far, including subsidies and household rebates?

How will wind turbine infrastructure be disposed of at their use-by date?

Why is the government steadfastly refusing to even start a debate about bringing nuclear energy into the future mix when overseas countries are embracing the technology at a rapid rate?

Take the public on the journey and expose the obfuscating efforts of the politicians who refuse to answer such basic questions daily.

Merryl Symons, Main Beach, Qld

Would Sussan Ley have abandoned net zero if it wasn’t for the stand publicly espoused by Andrew Hastie (“Hastie knows Libs could die if they lose this fight”, 25/11)? I think not.

Well done. Now Hastie must ratchet up the pressure on the Opposition Leader to fight for much lower immigration levels; equal treatment for all regardless of race; lower spending and lower taxes; a mixed energy approach including fossil fuels and nuclear power; curbing anti-Semitism; respecting our history, traditions and values; having just one flag; and fighting for a unified country, not the divided one we now have under Anthony Albanese. Hastie has a lot more work to do and the sooner he gets on with it, the better for us all.

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld