Former LNP party executive, spokesperson and life member Clive Palmer said in Brisbane today that the Liberal Party has “destroyed its own brand”, leaving Australians without confidence in a viable political alternative.
Mr Palmer said the party had abandoned the principles that once defined it.
“Gone are the days when the Liberals stood for small business, enterprise, low taxation and cutting red tape,” Mr Palmer said.
“Today the party has no policies and no direction.”
He said Deputy Leader Sussan Ley’s shifting positions reflected a wider leadership vacuum.
“Sussan Ley simply flips and flops on policy direction. There is no leadership and no clear plan for the nation,” he said.
Mr Palmer said the deterioration of the Liberal Party was also dragging down its Coalition partner.
“The Liberals are pulling the National Party backwards with them. There is no united vision and no coherent agenda,” he said.
“The average age of Liberal Party members in Queensland had now reached 72. Although I am 71, I could never vote for a party with such restrictive views,” Mr Palmer said.
“The powerbrokers screen all applications for membership to ensure control remains within the existing executive. That means power can never be challenged and renewal is impossible.”
Mr Palmer said it was no surprise the party could not attract new members. “Leaders say they don’t understand why no new members are joining. The answer is simple, there are no policies for young Australians and nothing to inspire the next generation.”
He said the party had abandoned the inclusive philosophy that once bound it together. “In the past it didn’t matter if you were to the right, the left or a moderate – you were first and foremost a Liberal. That unity has disappeared.”
Mr Palmer said the state of Australia’s political landscape was deeply concerning. “The Liberal Party has lost its way. There is no leadership, no policy platform and no effective opposition at a time when the country desperately needs one.”
“It’s a very sad situation for the national agenda, especially with a hopeless Federal Government and no alternative voice standing up for Australians.”
Mr Palmer said the consequences for ordinary Australians were already evident. “The only growth we will see in the foreseeable future is an expanding public service while private-sector job creation stalls.”
“It’s a tragedy that this once great nation now has over 200,000 homeless citizens. Some 7.8 million Australians are surviving on only one meal a day. Young Australians are facing falling living standards and the disappearance of a shared national identity.”
He said rising support for One Nation reflected growing desperation rather than genuine belief in the party.
“The increase in support for Pauline Hanson shows how desperate Australians have become – and she certainly isn’t the answer,” Mr Palmer said.
Mr Palmer warned that national unity, once Australia’s strength, was breaking down.
“Australians used to come from all corners of the world and unite. Today we are seeing fragmentation, and with it, declining prosperity for families across the country,” he said.
