Paul while I have problems with no sound so did not watch that clip it seems, based on good opinions I respect, that greens may take that seat, it fits in the middle of their type of supporter, Liberals made the best choice out of a bad thing, it will surprise me if they do not get a lift if not in the next poll the one after, not my wish but think it will be seen, most Liberal voters do not want a trip further to the right

The greatest progressive leader of the Liberal Party and a Prime Minister, in my lifetime was Sir John Grey Gorton (1911-2002). Gorton was a true liberal for his times. Famously Gorton is quoted as saying "I am a liberal, not a conservative" words that some in the Liberal Party could do well to be repeating today. However on a number of important issues Gorton was in my opinion a conservative.

Da cha vu, in November 1974, following an unsuccessful attempt to oust him as Liberal leader and install Malcolm Fraser in the top job, Gorton condemned those involved and stated they had caused "irreparable damage" to the party. He said "If Fraser got in, it would be a disaster. He is extreme right-wing. The Liberal Party can't be a right-leaning affair."

Admittedly and surprisingly, Fraser very much jettisoned his hard right philosophy later on, and was often seen as progressive on many issues. Gorton never forgave Fraser and detested him until his death in 2002, saying late in his life "I cannot even stand being in the same room as Fraser". In March 1983, Gorton publicly congratulated Bob Hawke "for rolling that bastard Fraser", at that year's election.

I do not think any of today's Liberal Parties scurvy crew will rise to the greatness of these men, but they could learn a lesson or two, from these ghosts of the past. Will this be, how it will be with Turnbull and Abbott? History will judge.

Just of interest; Gorton was most likely born in Wellington New Zealand, and probably ineligible to be a member of parliament. The only Senator to be Prime Minister, the only person to cast a deciding vote to sack himself as Prime Minister. And the only person not to be a member of parliament and Prime Minister at the same time, between 2 and 23 February 1968 (both dates inclusive) transferring from the Senate to the seat of Higgins in the House of Reps, he was a member of neither houses of parliament, yet he was Prime Minister.

Who is Peter Dutton?

He's a terse, shaven-head former police officer
from Queensland best known in politics for
setting up a military-style border force to keep
asylum seekers out of Australia. A man should he
have won - he wouldn't have kept the job beyond
the next election.

Why did the Liberal Party go through this mess
last week and not wait until the next election
when the voters would have decided the outcome.
Which they will now do anyway.

Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, go join your buddy
Rupert Murdoch in the US where you both belong.
Nobody wants you guys in this country!

'Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, go join your buddy
Rupert Murdoch in the US where you both belong.
Nobody wants you guys in this country!'

what a nasty piece of work you can be Foxy.

That PD got 40 votes is a sad indictment on the Libs and a sign of desperation.

I'm torn. I want to vote Lib next election but all this has left me cold. I can't vote for the left, and the right has vacated the middle.

On energy, I can't side with the AGW deniers on emissions, morally or pragmatically, and I can't abide by any push towards higher renewables. The NEG, with the 2030 legislated 26% emissions target, at least had the possibility of bipartisanship and the prospect of halting renewables while modular nuclear reactors fully emerge to totally change the landscape. Developing countries will bypass fossil fuels for nuclear, leaving them reserved to burn when global cooling becomes the issue. Surely nuclear cannot then remain illegal in Oz while the world changes around us?

The LNP has done the hard yards, and worn the odium, on super and penalty rates and must now follow through on company tax. Shorten's populism will cost Oz dearly, so I guess I'm stuck with ScoMo's religious right and the hope immigration is dealt with sensibly. We need a bigger Australia while we also need those who will assimilate This does not necessarily mean religious based restrictions on intake but a vetting of attitudes of prospective citizens. Focusing migrants away the major eastern cities will help.

runner please consider, your words to Foxy, for having an opinion you do not share, could be about you, your views are often far from supported by most, I think Foxy wanted to express contempt, many would, but let truth emerge the truth is modern Liberalism, no less For Labor, is not one big happy family, no good deed got done in this knifing, the very right fought the true Liberal party, and in all truth won, not in the way it wanted to but by picking the lesser ridgid of two Conservative faction candidates,I truly doubt with eyes open and mind cleared voters want the right of reality to rule.