Shadow finance minister James Paterson has called for the Liberal Party to end the “apology tour”. Photo: James Paterson Facebook.
Shadow finance minister James Paterson has set the cat among Coalition pigeons with a bold speech urging the Liberal Party to get over itself and focus on the task ahead.
Sussan Ley has praised the comments, even though Senator Paterson has called for an end to the party’s post-election “apology tour” – a term which could be interpreted as a direct criticism of the Opposition Leader’s current style.
Ms Ley is most pleased, however, with her senior frontbencher strongly discouraging an ideological split in Liberal ranks.
Senator Paterson said it would be a disaster for the party if it were to break up in pursuit of either conservative or moderate ideologies.
Parts of the Senator’s Tuesday night (14 October) Tom Hughes Oration in Sydney also appeared to target the likes of Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who have both left the shadow ministry to speak out freely from the backbench on rightwing policy issues.
“A senior Liberal official recently told me that in their 20 years of conducting focus groups, they are yet to hear a swing voter in a marginal seat say they are voting Liberal because of the freedom we grant our parliamentarians to speak out,” Senator Paterson said.
Describing it as a “serious moment for the Liberal Party”, Senator Paterson said Australians will not vote for the Coalition if it remains focused on itself rather than on them.
“In my view, we must call time on the apology tour,” he said.
“It is now time to get on with the three critical tasks we must complete before the next election: 1, resolve our internal differences about our direction amicably; 2, hold the Albanese government to account and expose their failings; 3, develop a coherent and compelling alternative policy agenda, consistent with our values and capable of earning the trust and support of the Australian people.
“The first of these is the hardest, and the most important.”
Ms Ley said she had read the speech before Senator Paterson delivered it because he had sent it to her.
She did not believe the Senator had overstepped any boundaries in speaking out so boldly.
“What it does is remind Australians of our Liberal values, where we back aspiration, where we back hardworking Australians that want to get ahead and play by the rules, develop a good future for themselves and their families,” the Opposition Leader said.
“So yes, I draw everyone’s attention to the speech. It’s excellent reading.”
Senator Paterson said in the wake of the party’s worst federal defeat in its 81-year history, it is “natural and healthy” to undergo a period of reflection, self-examination and debate about the future.
But he added that that does not mean unity and discipline are not important.
“On the contrary, in a modern communications environment, they are essential,” he said.
“When communication channels are fragmented, consistency of message is critical. That means there is a time limit on this 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’.
“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.”
He said the Liberal Party is not a think tank, an activist group or a debating society, but rather a political party designed to win and hold government.
“Those of us who remain in parliament have a special obligation to our party and our country,” Senator Paterson said.
“And our solemn task is to get ourselves in a state where we are capable of governing again. The consequences if we fail are dire.”
Jane Hume, who was dumped from the shadow ministry when Ms Ley assumed the leadership, agreed with Senator Paterson’s remarks.
She said the Coalition should focus on the 33 seats it needs to win back government.
“Those of us that might feel the need to adopt populist policies might find that the Liberal Party ends up being the second most popular populist party in Australia,” she told Sky News.
“That’s what One Nation do. There’s no point in being the second most popular.
“The good news is James is a really central character in the leadership team, so let’s hope he’s sending that message home every single day to the leader and those in the leadership team.”
The Tom Hughes Oration is named after the Attorney-General in the Liberal Party Federal Government of John Gorton from 1969 to 1971. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1963 to 1972 and was one of Australia’s most respected barristers. He died in November 2024, aged 101.
