“The Liberal Party across Australia has grown much more conservative and it will be difficult for the Liberal Party in Canberra to accept one of the prime lessons from this election is that a big majority of Canberrans do not want a conservative government,” writes MICHAEL MOORE.

THE Canberra Liberals have a fresh face. They hope this will mean doing better at the next election. 

The abysmal performance of the Alistair Coe-led Liberals at the recent election calls for a serious rethink for both their Assembly team and for their broader party.

Putting up a different leadership team is a positive start. It is different. In her first media statement as leader, Elizabeth Lee stated: “I am proud to lead a diverse team who bring together many life experiences and cultural backgrounds”. 

Her own background as a lawyer, an experienced MLA and her Korean heritage suggest something new, something fresh.

The last time the Liberals were in government they were led by Kate Carnell. She also brought a different approach. She wrestled the leadership from the fairly conservative Trevor Kaine and offered something different to Canberrans.

However, the challenge is bigger for Elizabeth Lee. The Liberal Party in Canberra and across Australia has grown much more conservative. As much as it will be difficult for the Liberal Party in Canberra to accept, one of the prime lessons from this election is that a big majority of Canberrans do not want a conservative government. 

Former moderate chief minister Gary Humphries is returning to the party in the hope of having some influence. Dissatisfaction with such a long-term government ought to have resulted in a Liberal landslide. However, rather than voting conservative, voters moved to the Greens.

Under the more moderate leadership of former leader Jeremy Hanson the party did much better at the 2016 election. The Liberals won 36.7 per cent of the vote in that election compared to Labor’s 38.4 per cent. In 2020 Labor dropped 0.6 per cent to 37.8 per cent. However, instead of routing the government, the Liberals dropped 2.9 per cent to 33.8 per cent.

Elizabeth Lee is an excellent media performer and a thoughtful politician. She does need to be given a chance, particularly by her parliamentary colleagues and the broader party. Issues such as abortion and euthanasia can continue to be handled as conscience votes. Hopefully, without attempts at inappropriate influence on each other.

The new Deputy Leader, Giulia Jones, will need to move from her previously conservative approach to support her leader. She will also need to play a key part in bringing other conservative elements with her. The question for her is how much is she prepared to reconsider her conservative views and to genuinely become more moderate. It will require this sort of transition to facilitate the possibility of winning government.

One indication of a new start would be for the Canberra Liberals to take a fresh stance on justice issues. A fresh face would put the law-and-order approach aside and fall in heavily behind restorative justice. With her legal background, Elizabeth Lee is the right person to lead this sort of transformation. 

The Liberals could lead such a justice transformation. Our incarceration rates are increasing exponentially through our archaic approach to justice policy. The government has committed to reduce recidivism by 25 per cent in the next five years. The Liberals need to be strongly supportive and, additionally, suggest ways to address the causes of such high incarceration rates.

Lorana Bartels, Tom Calma and Rudi Lammers threw down the gauntlet a couple of months ago saying: “There is an avalanche of evidence from experts and governments of all political persuasions that says reform to our traditional criminal justice system leads to better economic and social outcomes”. 

A focus on the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, and particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our justice system, would be a very good start.

Leadership can be managed from opposition. The ACT committee system, introduction of legislation, matters of public importance, challenging government in question time as well as in the media all provide opportunities.

Justice is just one example. Our education system has been going downhill, as have our hospitals. In the absence of any report so far from the anti-corruption commission, there remains a perception of lack of integrity in planning. This ought to have favoured the Liberals in the election.

The Canberra Liberals now have a chance to implement their fresh approach. Let’s see if it happens.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.