Tony Abbott will not save the Liberal Party. Not unless he is prepared to make the hard decisions – choices that are uncomfortable but absolutely necessary. The party didn’t just up and die in the last few weeks. Nor did it happen upon the elevation of Sussan Ley – although that was the point its demise hit warp speed.
It has been a slow death. Arrogant moderates (aided by transactional Hawkers) met with an indecisive and often cowardly right who are gutless in the face of common-sense. The leadership lifted the anchor and drifted in the wind. Totally without principle and lacking in purpose.
The Abbott Government itself suffered from an, at times, confused platform as he tried to wrangle forces in his party better suited to his opposition – hell bent on betraying their voters. It got worse from there.
So many of those voters have given up hope and put on Teal and now orange shirts and they might not fit perfectly, but at least they are a shirt.
For too long the moderates in the elected wing have shown the electorate that the Liberals are not worth a vote. Totally useless and enthralled with lazy identity politics and all the vapid virtue that comes along with it. Enter the current seat-warmer in Lindsay – Melissa Grah McIntosh.
She is a metaphor for the Liberal Party today. A case study in the cancer that has been slowly putting it out. Vapid, confused and breathless ambition, prepared to transact with whoever Alex Hawke tells her she can, and absolutely lost.
If she read Menzies’ “We Believe” statement, it would have been very slowly, and it is clear she did not understand it. Instead of standing for smaller government, and individual initiative… instead of calling for the rebuilding of charity, the sort that made up the fabric of our once great nation, she attacks Labor for daring to wind back their totally failed NDIS.
The most destructive and reckless piece of law to have ever existed. It was clear to many of us that the NDIS would fail… that it would be rorted on both ends, as the ignorant ship of state sailed the bloating thing over the horizon - fuelled by taxes and killing the real economy in its wake.
It is on its way to cost us more than the military and Medicare combined. Many in desperate need get nothing whilst others without need at all get gold plated armchairs. It needs more than what Labor is attempting to do, but to be fair to them, it is a good start.
So many in McIntosh’s electorate are struggling to pay their bills, eat, and grapple with the unfair levels of taxation, but she wants to make their lives harder in order to try and attack Labor for trying to be more fiscally responsible. A total betrayal of her voters, her party platform and common-sense.
Worse than that, her attack piece uses some of Australia’s most vulnerable people to lay the boot. A shameless piece of political bastardry.
The NDIS must be pared back. The Liberals must insist that is done. McIntosh should face a preselection and be rolled. They need an authentic Liberal voice that is capable of providing a voice for those opposed to Labor and their tax and spend mentality.
Tony Abbott must turn the corner and allow a blonde woman with little substance to face a preselection.
In fact, I suggest he must insist. Or just watch the party sink to the bottom of the ocean never to be seen again.
The people deserve better representation, and Labor have to go.
I just want Australia back.