Australian politicians, including Liberals, have failed to defend the nation against the growing internal and external threats posed by the Left.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott's speech last night in Sydney to a CPAC audience where he introduced former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, highlighted the troubling rise of Left-wing ideology and the inability of centre-right politicians to counter it.
According to Abbott, while Australia once thrived under strong leadership that fostered prosperity and freedom, today it faces serious threats due to a lack of political courage and conviction.
In his speech, Abbott stated that the world in 2020 was "more rich, more free, more fair, more just" than ever before, thanks to the global order established by Western powers.
However, this progress is now in danger from both external dictatorships and internal ideological threats, such as the "woke mind virus" and the "net zero mind virus."
He warned that these ideologies, championed by the Left, have not only gained traction in public institutions but have also infiltrated centre-right political parties like the Liberals, leading to a failure of leadership.
Abbott remarked that "centre-right governments all too often are in office but not in power," acknowledging that the Liberal Party has increasingly been swayed by Leftist agendas rather than standing firm on traditional conservative values.
One of the clearest examples of this failure is the Liberal Party’s approach to energy policy.
Once a bastion of affordable and reliable energy, Australia has embraced net zero policies that are driving up costs and weakening the economy.
Abbott criticised this shift, noting that "a market that results in the de-industrialisation of the West in favour of China is not a market that is working."
He pointed out the absurdity of conservatives embracing policies that undermine Australia’s energy security and economic future, stating, "we need to get over the net zero fixation."
Abbott also took aim at the lack of political courage among centre-right politicians, arguing that many have been too willing to follow the Left’s lead on issues like climate change, immigration, and cultural values.
"We've got to do more and do better if we are to make the difference that our world so badly needs right now," he said, stressing that conservatives must reclaim their core principles.
This failure, he suggested, is partly due to the rise of a "new left establishment" that has "colonised our own political parties."
He observed that politicians are too often more concerned with being on the "right side of history" or attending the "right dinner party" than standing up for conservative principles.
Abbott's warning was clear: unless conservatives are willing to stand firm against these ideological shifts, the Left will continue to dominate.
The Liberal Party’s attempts to appease progressive agendas have led to a dilution of its core values.
As Abbott explained, "we are the freedom party, the tradition party, above all else, we’re the patriotic party," yet many in the party seem to have forgotten these roots.
Abbott’s call to action is one that Family First wholeheartedly supports.
He concluded that what is needed now is "more character, more conviction, and more courage."
The Liberal Party has lost its way by failing to defend the very values that made Australia a great nation.
If Australia is to thrive again, it must reject the destructive ideologies of the Left and embrace a renewed conservative vision, one that prioritises economic strength, national sovereignty, and cultural integrity.
Abbott’s speech serves as a stark reminder that the time for compromise has passed. Australia needs bold leadership that is unafraid to confront the Left and restore the nation’s political and economic future.
Family First echoes Abbott’s call for a revival of centre-right politics in Australia, urging politicians to defend, not dilute, the values that have made the country strong.