It's funny how the media and Labor still claim that the Liberals are 'conservative'. While there may be some actual conservatives within its ranks, the party is not conservative in the social or cultural sense. Most of its members could be described as neoliberals economically and left-liberals socially/culturally.

Paul Collits has an interesting piece on the state of Australian conservatism here: http://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2019/07/the-accelerating-rise-of-nationalist-conservatism/

He writes:

"Australian conservatism, as represented in the Parliament, is notoriously philosophy-free, pragmatic and generally focused on the shenanigans of party politics and its personalities. The dominant intellectual strain among the think tanks here has been that same libertarianism which seems now to be on the nose among the emerging US nationalist conservatives. The Institute of Public Affairs and the Centre for Independent Studies seem still to have as their main focus in the era of Folau the grasping, regulatory State, when the State is far from the only enemy, even the main enemy, of personal freedom. In any event, the libertarian strain of the Australian right has as its main game “the right to have views” in the public square, and not, as the social conservative base would have it, the importance of defending “the right views” in the public square. Ironically, most libertarians would probably agree with the progressive critics of the Christian right’s “outdated” views, while at the same time defending the latter’s right to have those views.

Nor has there been a genuine accommodation of these philosophical strands within the Liberal Party, other than in the interests of that party’s tedious pragmatism born of the endless yearning for ministerial leather that is embedded in the party’s DNA. Moreover, reflecting Daniel McCarthy’s comments noted above, many, perhaps most, of the now dominant leftist faction in the Liberal Party would find the views of Australian conservatives far more abhorrent than the views of the progressive Left on the core concerns of our times."

My view is that the Liberal Party is worthless and exists largely as a vehicle to maintain power. For actual conservatives, the Liberals are, at best, a profound disappointment and, at worst, perfidious.

Just to change the direction somewhat.

Peter Dutton has granted a visa to British right-wing
provocateur to visit Australia to speak at the
Conservative Political Action Conference being held
in Sydney next week. Labor has described him as an
extremist and a "career bigot" who spreads hate speech.

Peter Dutton argued that Australia was a country that
embraced free speech and as long as debate was civil it
was important to have a variety of views.

However, visas were denied to David Icke, Holocaust
denier and British conspiracy theorist, former footballer
and sports broadcaster, author of 20 books and also to
Gavin McInnes - far-right campaigner and founder of the
Proud Boys (he cut his ties with them in 2018). His visa
was denied on "character grounds".

Mr Kassam is set to appear along side his former boss
Nigel Farage and former PM Tony Abbott at the
Conservative Political Action Conference.

Australians do have a right to free speech but due to
Kassam's previous reprehensible comments -
one of which was suggesting Scotland's PM Nicola Sturgeon
should have her legs taped shut so she can't
reproduce - and his extreme views, should we be at all
concerned that his views are being made mainstream by
some members of the Liberal Party?

Why ban some and allow other extremists?

What I find so perplexing is those who literally live off the proceeds of Capitalism condemn Capitalism & pronounce Socialism, which squanders most proceeds, as the answer to our social woes ! Are people really that stupid ?

Foxy yes and in doing that shouts Dutton at least is a conservative our new poster [at least to me] is welcomed
But until voters engage and start to understand the LNP are here to stay
I know my lurch to the right of center offends some
But as I believe only Labor can bring change I know Labor must change too
Those on the left tell me constantly voters left us because Labor is too far right
Tell me then who are these refugees voting for? ten percent greens yes true
The rest however must be voting LNP or more likely do not exist

Individual,

Yes. Obviously. But I'm enjoying this thread, with Mr Apprentice-Opinionated coming outwith his juvenile [Hey, been there, done that, so I can't crow] Utopian dreams. And no, whoever asked what had Mr. O. learnt from uni - don't blame him, he hasn't got there yet.

Correct me if I got it wrong, but I thought the Libs won the election. And that Labor lost it, and may well lose the next one too. It's a bit rich talking about Coalition problems when Labor and the Greens haven't yet sorted out how they lost. The first step to success is to admit realities. The Labor Party abandoned its working-cass base, chasing the Green vote: simple as that. Can Albanese control his impulses (and his front bench) and bring Labor back towards the centre ?

As it happens, I voted for my local Labor candidate: very nice woman, very dedicated. And No. 1 for Lucy Gichuhi for the Senate. That didn't work out so well.

Joe

Dear Belly,

I think that most people's opinions will vary
depending on the issues involved. We tend
to be progressive on some issues and
conservative on others. It more complex then
just labels. And therefore political parties
also have to take notice and listen to the
voters. Something that I think Labor did not fully
do during the last election - where many fears were
not fully and properly explained.