Senior Liberal Senator Says Coalition Must Prevent the ‘Victorianisation’ of Australia

Shadow Minister James Paterson said there was a time limit on the soul searching process

Senator James Paterson of the centre-right Liberal Party before a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 5, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Liberal Senator James Paterson has outlined his vision for the Liberal Party in a keynote speech in Sydney.

Pointing out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ambition for Labor to become the “natural party of government” federally, Paterson said it could only be achieved on the back of the Liberal Party’s failure.

“It is not within Anthony Albanese or the Labor Party’s ability to become the natural party of government federally,” he said at the Tom Hughes Oration.

Paterson said his home state was an example of what happens when Labor stayed in power over the long haul.

“If you want to understand what the consequences of an entrenched, long-term Labor government looks like, just examine Victoria,” he said.

“Take it from me, it’s not pretty. We have a moral duty to prevent the Victorianisation of Australia.”

Paterson said the Liberal Party needs to get on with three critical tasks before the next election.

First, resolving internal differences amicably; second, holding the Albanese government to account; and third, developing a policy agenda both consistent with Liberal values and capable of earning the trust and support of Australians.

“In my view, we must call time on the apology tour,” he said.

Time Limit on ‘Soul Searching Process’

The Liberals agreed that the lessons of the last term were putting off too many debates, and prizing unity and discipline above almost all else.

“We can’t afford to make that mistake again. We need to have these debates, and some of them will be necessarily public and contested,” Paterson said.

“It is an opportunity not just for parliamentarians but for commentators and supporters to participate too.”

Paterson said this did not mean that unity and discipline were not important. However, there was a time limit on the soul-searching process.

“We must do it now at the start of the term so it does not drag on forever. An ongoing mass public therapy session doesn’t exactly scream ’ready for government,'” Paterson said.

“If we are still engaged in this process at the back end of the term, it will send a message to the Australian people that we are focused on ourselves, not them.”

Western Australian Labor MP Tania Lawrence recently accused the Liberal Party of being too busy infighting instead of being an effective opposition.

“The Coalition are seriously out of touch. The only policies we’ve actually even heard from them is articulation of social division, infighting, and climate denial,” she said in parliament on Oct. 8 (pdf).

Recently, two prominent conservative Liberals have left the frontbench—future leader aspirant Andrew Hastie and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Hastie quit while Price was asked to step down, calling into question Sussan Ley’s leadership.

Paterson also spoke out against the voices arguing that the Liberal Party should split.

“They argue that the differences between people who call themselves ‘conservatives’ and ’liberals’ today are unbridgeable and we should go our separate ways,”  Paterson said.

“Our task is to make sure these voices remain marginal. Because if they succeed, it would be a disaster for the Liberal Party and Australia.”

Primary Concerns For Conservatives

Paterson described the decline in Australian manufacturing as a concern for today’s conservatives.

“In an era of strategic competition, our dependence on authoritarian powers for critical imports is a serious problem,” he said.

“And if we were ever called upon to produce military platforms or munitions at scale in a time of conflict, I have grave doubts about our ability to do so.”

He also raised concerns about the housing and energy markets in Australia.

“Our energy market is utterly broken by the pursuit of unrealistic targets, and it is hurting families and businesses,” he said.

“Most crucially for young Australians, housing has become an unattainable dream. The burden of working and saving to get into the market has had a profound and negative impact on their ability to make choices about family formation.”

Paterson also said migration since the pandemic had been uncontrolled, unplanned and too high.

“It has been a major contributor to our housing crisis, and it must be brought back to sustainable levels,” he said.

Opposition Leader Welcomes Contribution

Opposition leader Sussan Ley welcomed Paterson’s contribution on Oct. 15.

“It’s an important contribution and it reminds people of our Liberal values that are all about hard work, reward for effort, aspiration and getting ahead,” she told the Today Show.

Paterson also expressed support for Ley leading the Liberal Party to the next election.