POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT

To say that the federal election result wasn't what we'd hoped for is to state the obvious.

But before diving into reflections, it's worth remembering one thing.

It's always easy, from the comfort of the couch, to imagine how someone else's job could've

been done better.

Our leadership team and campaign staff worked around the clock.

Many had little to no sleep for days. That's commitment.

And to each and every one of our volunteers, those who stood for hours at prepoll, those who captained booths on election day, thank you.

We couldn't have done any of it without you.

We also thank our leader, Peter Dutton, for his tireless services to our party and to the country over the past 25 years.

It was under his principled leadership that Australians voted for unity in the October 2023

referendum, a historic moment that already feels distant in a fast-moving world.

We've all heard the saying: Oppositions don't win elections, Governments lose them.

There's some truth in that.

Labor succeeded in capturing the imagination of a majority of voters.

As believers in democracy, we accept the people's verdict.

Yet this isn't the end of the story. Not even close.

We've been here before.

We held government from 1996 to 2007 (11 years) and again from 2013 to 2022 (9 years).

That's two out of the last three decades.

The pendulum always swings back.

But it doesn't swing on its own.

It needs a push and that's where all of us come in.

The Policy Committee will be leading the charge in modernising how we develop policy.

That means more research, better feedback loops and deeper grassroots engagement.

It also means listening to what voters are saying.

Character is tested not when things are going well, but when they aren't.

This is one of the toughest tests our party has faced in a generation.

But it's also a turning point and there are reasons to be hopeful.

Take Tim Wilson's win in Goldstein for example.

This was a hard-fought seat reclaimed from a popular Teal Independent with a strong,

focused local campaign.

Or the defeat of Greens Leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne, a serious blow to their movement.

Take Andrew Hastie's resounding win in the seat of Canning as another inspiration.

These are not small wins.

They're signs of where things can go when campaigns are targeted, local and persuasive.

We also need to be clear-eyed about what's changing around us.

Generational and demographic shifts are real.

Many older Australians who backed us for decades are no longer with us.

Their children and grandchildren, often under 30 and locked out of the housing market face a different Australia.

Winning them over means understanding their lives, not lecturing them.

We won't make progress by calling them 'snowflakes' or 'wokesters'.

That kind of language does nothing for us.

Everyone is a product of their circumstances, their upbringing, their education and their

environment.

Just as it's our democratic right to campaign for change, it's their democratic right to hold

different views.

But persuasion always trumps dismissal.

If we want to earn their trust, we must start with respect.

The Australia of today is not the Australia of the Howard era.

Back then, there was no social media.

Most voters got their news from TV, print or the occasional website.

Campaign messages travelled slowly and stayed within narrow circles.

As a result, swings were often modest.

Today, everyone carries a smartphone.

One viral video or headline can dominate the national conversation within minutes.

There's no such thing as a 'safe seat' anymore.

Everyone's paying attention, whether they want to or not.

This has changed how people form opinions.

And if views can swing from right to left, they can also swing back with the right message,

the right messenger and the right tools.

Modern campaigning isn't optional. It's essential.

That's why your role in this is critical.

The Policy Committee will be working with members and supporters to rebuild from the

ground up, with a focus on smart policy, better communication and deeper outreach.

In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to engaging with you, listening to your

ideas and working together to prepare for a strong comeback in 2028.

Thanks again for everything you've done and for everything you'll continue to do for our

party at a time when it needs you the most.

Feel free to reach out. Always here to help. Thanks.

Dr Sherry Sufi

Policy Chairman

Liberal Party of Australia (WA Division)