Paul Kelly, editor at large for The Australian, speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about his new book, The Twilight of Exceptionalism, which examines the turbulent era of the Liberal Party under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison.
Leadership Changes and Party Fractures
Kelly writes about how the Liberal leadership changed hands from a conservative (Abbott), to a progressive (Turnbull), and then to a transactional centrist (Morrison). He argues that this period demonstrated the party was fractured over its values and confused about its identity in a changing world.
Exploring the Party's Future
The podcast also touches on proposals to make the party a 'fit-for-purpose political machine,' including re-examining gender quotas. Kelly questions whether the second coming of Tony Abbott can resurrect the Liberal party or if it is another step toward 'self-destruction.'
