The Liberal Party may be finding its feet in the polls but its path back to government could depend on whether it can move beyond the culture wars that have dominated recent political battles.
With cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability and economic uncertainty weighing on Australians, the party could hold a unique advantage by returning to the bread-and-butter issues that have traditionally underpinned its electoral success.
Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian says the Liberals appear to have learnt some critical lessons from their “ill-fated” 2025 campaign and are moving into future political showdowns with a renewed focus on economic managment and everyday issues.
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“The Liberal Party’s strategy has been changing in recent times,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Issues concerning identity and values are not things that necessarily motivate people to support the Liberal Party.
“Rather, it’s the bread and butter issues that will be important for the party.”
Back to the economy Ghazarian said the party’s traditional strength had been its reputation for economic management, which had been central to some of its most successful election campaigns.
“The party has positioned itself as the most effective or the more effective manager of the economy, that’s been critical for the party’s reputation,” he said.
So, as Australians grapple with rising costs, housing pressures and growing uncertainty about the economy, Ghazarian said the political environment was creating an opportunity for the Liberals to capitalise on dissatisfaction with the Albanese Government.
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Australians are grappling with rising costs, housing pressures and growing uncertainty about the economy. Credit: AAP The latest Australian Financial Review/RedBridge Group/Accent Research poll put the Coalition’s primary vote at 25 per cent, up four points from the previous survey, while Labor fell two points to 26 per cent.
The result marked the Coalition’s strongest primary vote in almost a year.
Ghazarian said the party’s improving appeal was being driven partly by its own messaging, but also by the government’s struggles to address major economic concerns.
“The Albanese Government is really struggling to deal with these policy spot fires, in particular, cost of living, housing affordability and housing availability,” he said.
“Factors have played into the hands of the Liberal Party somewhat, where it is now starting to appeal to voters who may not have voted for it in the past but are now more attracted to the party because of what’s happening to the economy.”
While he was not convinced the Liberals had yet won back the hearts and minds of voters frustrated with Labor, Ghazarian said the party had reminded Australians it remained a credible alternative.
“They have certainly reminded them that they do exist, that they are a relevant party, and they can be a credible alternative at the next election,” he said.
The culture wars challenge The challenge for federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor and Liberal leaders across the country will be turning that renewed interest into lasting support and resisting the temptation to become embroiled in the identity and values debates that have frequently dominated political rhetoric of late.
The challenge for federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor will be turning renewed interest into lasting support. Credit: AAP Ghazarian warned those issues have the potential to polarise voters, while offering little electoral benefit to a major party seeking to broaden its appeal.
“While that may speak to some people who have very strong views, it has the potential to polarise the community and potentially turn off people from voting for the party,” he said.
Instead, he said the Liberals should concentrate on issues that affect Australians regardless of their political views.
“These are things that affect the community, economic policy, service delivery, cost of living; these are universal issues,” he said.
“It would make sense for the Liberal Party to focus on these universal issues rather than trying to tap into niche issues like trying to engage in culture wars.”
The Victorian test case
Ghazarian argued the Victorian Liberal Party is a prime example of the potential benefits of that approach.
He said the party in the state had spent much of the past decade consumed by debates around identity, values and cultural issues.
But in recent months, the party has shifted its attention towards more traditional policy concerns, including the economy, government services, the cost of living and infrastructure.
“What we are seeing is a bounce in the party support,” he said.
A chance to reclaim economic credentials
Ghazarian said the Liberals had an advantage over smaller political parties because of their established position as a major party with a long history of economic management.
He noted the Howard government as an example of the party’s ability to respond to changing economic circumstances, including through debt reduction, taxation measures and a focus on government spending.
He also noted the Coalition’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Morrison government abandoned its traditional emphasis on spending restraint to support the economy.
That flexibility, he said, was an advantage for the Liberals as they sought to demonstrate they could respond to the economic challenges facing the country.
“As a major party, the Liberal Party can chop and change its policies to suit the economic climate,” he said.
But with the Victorian election just weeks away, followed by the NSW election in March next year, Ghazarian said the party’s ability to keep its focus on issues affecting everyday Australians could prove critical.