Australia at federation was perhaps the most developed example of harnessing democracy and bureaucracy.
- Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Monash University
Many Liberal politicians have been passionate about redressing Indigenous disadvantage, but have come unstuck by the pitfall of ‘settler liberalism’.
There are lessons from history in how to hold the Liberal Party together – and it’s about more than just opposing everything the government does.
Neither Scott Morrison nor Anthony Albanese has so far impressed with strong leadership skills - but the Labor leader may offer a different style of leadership that might suit the times.
National cabinet, like COAG before it, had early success that then dissolved into discord. It will survive the pandemic - but the question is whether it will be effective.
There are three measures for assessing whether public policy is successful, and the Coalition has been found wanting on all three. But there is one policy area that is an even bigger disaster.
Du courage et de la préparation, voici ce qui aura manqué au premier ministre Scott Morrison pour répondre au défi des incendies hors norme qui ravagent l’Australie depuis des mois.
A crisis of this scale requires a willingness to listen to the best sources of advice and generate bipartisan consensus. But Morrison has struggled to put the national interest above party politics.
Their longest serving leader built the modern Liberal Party after its predecessor collapsed in 1941– but it took him eight years and defeat in two elections.
The Australian prime ministership has never been easy, but the most successful tenures have been those in which the person has matched the circumstances.
Riven by dispute about the idea of liberalism espoused by Robert Menzies, and increasingly at risk of fracture, a once great party is in turmoil.
Ultra-conservatism has a rich and complex history within Australian parties, and Malcolm Turnbull has the difficult task of balancing the more extreme elements of his party with his own liberal views.
Alfred Deakin and his contemporaries invented the Australian prime ministership. But it was not settled as a platform for national leadership until John Curtin and Ben Chifley’s time.
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