Malcolm Fraser’s final vision offers a guide for a new liberal party

As the federal Liberals struggle to find a way forward as an electoral political force, and right-wingers and moderates alike ponder the potential benefits of division, questions about what the Liberals should stand for, whether their track record is valid, and where the party fits into an Australia so different even from John Howard’s presidency are more pressing than at any time since the 1980s. Throughout this decade the Liberals faced repeated electoral defeats, deep ideological problems, a strong threat from the right and regular leadership conflicts; These were all topics the 2025 party was familiar with.