Our campaign forgot some fundamental Liberal values

Senator says Coalition campaign forgot to push some fundamental Liberal values.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Supplied

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We failed. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, when it comes to the most recent campaign, we as the Coalition failed to lead and we’re now bearing the consequences.

Our failure to lead was not the fault of any one person alone.

However, I believe our approach to leadership, as individuals and within the leadership group more collectively, needs to be examined in light of the election result.

To me, leadership isn’t just about standing at the top to lead the way. Strong leaders empower the team to be competent and effective at what they do.

Confident leaders know when to let the team members stand up and lead in their own right.

My experience tells me that this could have been done better during the campaign.

During the course of the last term there were those within the Coalition who had put in the hard work to develop policy that would benefit the Australian people in a meaningful way.

For various reasons, considered policy was released too late or not at all, and while the decisions no doubt were made in good faith, it is clear that this ultimately hurt rather than helped our campaign.

And it’s ironic because ultimately these decisions stemmed from a failure to abide by some fundamental Liberal values.

Personal freedom and individual responsibility come immediately to mind, yet within our own camp it seems we failed to honour that.

You know, we in the Coalition are very proud (and so we should be) of the fact we operate on the basis of merit.

Portfolio holders deserve their positions, not to fill a quota or because of a factional entitlement.

But honestly, what’s the use in a meritocracy if we don’t actually let those capable people follow where aspiration leads them and fearlessly put forward policy?

All I’m really trying to say is that if we are claiming to lead Australia according to a specific set of values, then we had better be absolutely sure we are applying them to ourselves first.

Peter Dutton concedes defeat on election night in Brisbane as Australians rejected the Coalition’s pitch for a conservative shift. Picture: Getty Images

That’s the heart of integrity – that we apply the same standards no matter the situation, resisting inconsistency between what we say and what we do.

This is one of the lessons we need to learn from this last election.

So, as we rebuild, let’s hold fast to that model of leadership.

If I have the privilege of being part of the formal leadership of the Liberal Party, that’s how I commit to leading.

And I know Angus Taylor is absolutely committed to that way of leading. A genuine, hardworking man of belief and conviction, who believes in empowering those around him.

He isn’t here for himself or his party – he’s here with a far broader horizon in his sights; our country for generations to come.

Angus Taylor is committed to leading with a consistent upholding of standards. Picture: Monique Harmer

That’s why I have chosen to step forward and stand with Angus. Because I know that he is a man of integrity who lives the values that will be needed in opposition and, in time, in government.

I say these things and I stand with Angus not because of some sense of who falls where on the political spectrum but from a deep desire to improve the lives of all Australians.

And it’s that guiding principle that brings about commonsense policy based on principle, not polling.

And it allows strong voices to speak – not just when they’re convenient but when they’re right. Because, ultimately, this is what Australians deserve.

So yes, there is a long journey back, but it can start only with the right leadership, and I have complete confidence that Angus is the one we need if we are to have a fighting chance of turning our party and the country around.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians.