The Liberal Party’s federal election defeat marks a watershed moment in its modern political history. Such losses go beyond parliamentary arithmetic and they call into question the Party’s purpose and relevance in the national conversation. In moments like this, the impulse is to focus on process and procedure and quickly replace its leadership. However, true political renewal requires a more foundational approach rooted in values, purpose, and authenticity.
The Party failed to cross this bridge after its loss in 2022, when it did backroom deals and elected a leadership team without:
- really absorbing and considering the electorate’s messages;
- understanding the electorate’s needs and impact on the Party’s suite of policies;
- reviewing where they went wrong and understanding why they lost; and
- making fundamental changes to how they deal with the electorate and addressing their expectations.
The central challenge facing the Liberal Party is not simply who should lead next, but what the Party actually stands for in 2025 and beyond. Without clarity of purpose, no leader—no matter how skilled—can carry the Party forward with credibility. Before the Party elects a new leadership team, it must undertake a serious process of reflection to determine what values it wishes to project to the electorate:
- What does it believe in?
- Who does it seek to represent?
- What kind of future does it envision for Australia?
Only once these questions have been answered can the Party credibly select a leader who embodies these principles. A values-based leader—authentic, consistent, and anchored in belief rather than political calculation—is the only kind of leader who can rebuild public trust and reconnect with a sceptical electorate.
Authenticity is no longer optional in modern politics. Voters have become more attuned to spin, more discerning of character, and more demanding of integrity. A leader who cannot be believed—or worse, who appears to be saying one thing to the public and another behind closed doors—will not survive the scrutiny of a media cycle, let alone the long journey to government. The electorate does not expect perfection, but it does demand honesty and a genuine sense of purpose.
This is particularly critical for the Liberal Party, whose traditional base is fragmenting and whose appeal to younger, urban, and progressive-leaning Australians has diminished. A new leader must do more than consolidate factions—they must personify the values that will guide the Party’s next generation of policy, outreach, and identity. It is not enough to be a skilled communicator or a parliamentary tactician. The next Liberal leader must be a values-based leader.
The Liberal Party cannot rebuild around a person. It must rebuild around a purpose. That purpose must be articulated clearly before any leadership ballot is held. Once established, the next leader’s job is to live those values in word and deed—to spruik them to the nation not as slogans, but as convictions.
Without alignment between values, leadership, and authenticity, any attempt at renewal will appear cynical and superficial. In the age of voter disillusionment and political volatility, another misstep will see the end of the Liberal Party!
About Us
Ravim RBC’s principal, John Ravlic specialises in organisational development and design and assists councils around Australia with reviewing and planning services they deliver to their communities.
We assist in defining purpose, which informs who organisations are and what they do (identity). We develop policies that define the organisation’s offer, which are designed to achieve desired outcomes and benefits.
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