Conviction over Convenience
Genuine conviction, clarity of purpose, and consistency of principle must form the foundation of revival for the Liberal movement. by david hughes.
First published in the MRC’s Watercooler newsletter. Sign up to our mailing list to receive Watercooler directly in your inbox.
We cannot merely acknowledge our values, we need to actively advance them.
Over the last decade, the Liberal Party has won the occasional skirmish. But too often, these victories have relied on the missteps of opponents or short-term tactical manoeuvres. That’s not a foundation for lasting success.
A political party built on convenience will inevitably crumble. For the Liberal Party, or indeed any political force, real success depends on something deeper: genuine conviction.
Leaders must believe in their policies not because a poll suggests they should, but because those policies reflect the values they live by and the ideals their party stands for. It is not enough to appear principled. Leaders must be driven by their principles.
That’s why one-off cash handouts and hollow promises fail to resonate. When the purpose of policy is simply to grab headlines or votes, the public sees through it. Australians are looking for something more—something that reflects enduring values and a coherent vision for the nation.
Take tax reform as a case in point. Rather than offering a temporary rebate, why not confront the structural failures in the tax system head-on, even if it imposes a short-term cost on the budget? And explain it with clarity and honesty: we do it because we trust individuals more than bureaucracies to spend their own money. Because we believe in aspiration, reward for effort, and fairness. These are not mere slogans—they are convictions. And they are being steadily ignored.
The worst thing our leaders can do is choose a policy that appears popular based on polling, then later try to reverse-engineer a rationale that fits the party’s values.
Authenticity is scarce in politics today, and indeed in broader society. Yet authenticity is precisely what Australians seek and deserve from their leaders. Genuine conviction, clarity of purpose, and consistency of principle must form the foundation of revival for the Liberal movement. Voters rightly distrust transient promises and shifting allegiances. They respect a party that stands for enduring truths rather than expedient convenience.
When Liberals have triumphed, it has always been when they have spoken plainly and acted boldly—on things that truly mattered. Not because it was politically convenient, but because it was right.
As a generator of ideas, the work of the Menzies Research Centre is guided by a clear purpose: to produce sound policy anchored firmly in a set of enduring principles.
From economic and tax reform to industrial relations and education reform, our recent policy work champions the values of individual dignity, enterprise, aspiration and freedom.
In this time of rebuilding, it has never been more important for the Liberal movement to stay true to the principles that have made Australia one of the world's most prosperous nations.
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