The end of the Liberal Party in Australia

It’s not dramatic to suggest the end of the Liberal Party. But if it doesn’t make major reforms, this prediction may end up being correct.

The turmoil within the federal Liberal Party, particularly in the state of Tasmania, has highlighted deep-rooted issues that have been plaguing the party for some time. The continuing political crisis in Tasmania – the only jurisdiction where the Liberal Party is in office – where the government has teetered on the brink of collapse, provides a stark example of these problems.

The catalyst for the crisis in Tasmania was the announcement by Attorney–General Elise Archer that she would resign from Parliament. However, this decision was soon reversed, leading to a standoff with the Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff, who threatened to call an early election if Archer did not leave parliament. The situation was further complicated by allegations of bullying and workplace harassment against Archer, which prompted calls for her resignation from the Cabinet in the first place.

The Tasmanian government’s instability can be traced back to the resignation of former Premier Peter Gutwein in early 2022 where, after his departure, several Liberal Party MPs resigned to become independents, undermining the government’s stability. This crisis has had detrimental effects on democracy and good governance in Tasmania, and it threatens to persist until the next election, which is not due until mid-2025.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that the Premier of Tasmania, in this case, followed correct parliamentary procedure by considering an early election when facing potential supply issues and unlike some leaders who might have tried to brazen it out, he chose a democratic path: perhaps he didn’t have any option but it should still be commended. Nevertheless, the Liberal Party’s problems in Tasmania have far-reaching implications beyond the state itself.