Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy speaks with Paul Kelly, editor-at-large of The Australian, about his new book The Twilight of Exceptionalism. The book examines the turbulent era of the Liberal Party under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison.
Leadership Turmoil and Party Fractures
Kelly argues that the Liberal leadership changed hands from a conservative (Abbott) to a progressive (Turnbull) and then a transactional centrist (Morrison), revealing deep fractures over values and confusion about the party's identity in a changing world. According to Kelly, this period demonstrated the party was fractured over its values and confused about its identity.
Re-examining Gender Quotas
The discussion also touches on proposals to make the Liberal Party a 'fit-for-purpose political machine', including re-examining gender quotas. The party is considering a slew of proposals to address its electoral challenges.
Can Abbott's Return Resurrect the Liberals?
Kelly questions whether the second coming of Tony Abbott can resurrect the Liberal Party or if it is another step toward 'self-destruction'. The book delves into the party's internal conflicts and its struggle to adapt to modern Australian politics.
