The result of the federal election was shocking but it wasn’t surprising.
It was a resounding message from voters – and we would be foolish not to listen.
The truth is, the Liberal party didn’t lose because of campaign tactics or some leadership missteps alone. We lost becauseour policies failed to resonate. And they failed to resonate because, too often, they were built without the input of the very Australians we needed to win over – women, young people, multicultural communities and urban voters.
Too many of our policies seemed disconnected from the daily realities of modern Australia. The cost of living, housing, secure jobs, climate and education are dominating the concerns of millions – yet when asked how we’d address them we gave voters little reason to believe we understood the scale of the problem, let alone have credible answers.
To chart a credible path forward, we must return to first principles. TheLiberal partywas once defined by its broad reach – a party of the “forgotten people”, where aspiration met compassion and economic freedom was balanced by social responsibility. That legacy, championed by the party founder Robert Menzies, meant putting the concerns of ordinary Australians at the centre of political life.
We have drifted far from that foundation. Too many Australians now see us as departed from the centre, and speaking to a narrowing segment of the population, not to them.
The lack of women in our ranks is not just a political liability – it’s a structural failure.Womenmake up more than half the population yet remain dramatically underrepresented in our party, from branch level to the parliament itself. Of course we should be considering quotas. This is not about ticking boxes – it’s about removing entrenched barriers and making space for talent we have long overlooked. A necessary circuit breaker at a veritable crisis point where organic growth hasn’t materialised.
Quotas are not foreign to the Liberal party. We already use them. Every party branch and conference must elect both a male and a female delegate to vote in Senate and upper house preselections. We have quotas for metropolitan and regional members of our state executive. We have quotas for male and female vice-presidents.
TheCoalitionitself operates as a quota-based model: ministerial and shadow ministerial positions are shared between the Liberals and Nationals according to negotiated agreements. The leader of the Liberal party is our prime minister in government and the leader of the National party is our deputy prime minister – a power-sharing arrangement by design.
But improving representation isn’t just about numbers. It’s about culture. Women should feel that they belong in the Liberal party – not as a gesture or a fix, but because their perspectives are essential to how we govern. If women don’t feel heard, valued or safe in our ranks they won’t stay – and voters will continue to turn away from us, too.
The same is true for young Australians, multicultural Australians, and city dwellers. Too often they were dismissed as too hard to reach, when in fact, the message itself was the problem.
Their concerns are real. They want secure work, a shot at buying a home, meaningful climate action and a system that doesn’t leave them behind. These challenges can be solved through true adherence to Liberal values. But they won’t be solved if we vacate the field.
That is a recipe for disaster, where we offer no reason for frustrated Liberals to return; direct swing voters away and close the door to potential future cohorts of supporters.
This election loss was not some kind of anomaly. It was a clear judgment on our relevance and resonance with the electorate. It’s not just that we didn’t win – it’s that voters didn’t see themselves reflected in our policies, our people or our priorities.
Rebuilding starts with humility. It starts with broadening our base, modernising our policy agenda, and cultivating a culture that welcomes and elevates a wider range of voices. We don’t need to become a different party. We need to become a better version of the party we were meant to be.
Australians are asking for leadership that is competent, compassionate and connected to their lives. If we are serious about governing again we must rebuild trust – not with slogans or short-term campaign commitments, but with substance.
That work must begin now.
Maria Kovacic is a Liberal senator for New South Wales