We live in a representative democracy. That is, we elect people to represent us in Parliament House and act on our behalf.
It is therefore only proper for those seeking election to be very clear on where they stand on broad issues, so that we will have some idea of how they will vote on various matters. This is not only morally correct, but also professional. And with a base salary of $233,660, professional behaviour from politicians is what we should expect.
Recently we have all heard the cries of various things being an ‘attack on democracy’, yet surely the greatest perversion of our democracy is when our elected members deceive us into voting for them by claiming one thing, and then doing the opposite?
We have, unfortunately, become accustomed to politicians lying and almost consider it acceptable. It’s not.
It is acceptable though, even admirable, for people to change their minds when new information comes to light. But when claimed guiding principles are routinely ignored, then we have deception.
And I believe the Liberal Party deceives us. They have the most magnificent set of Beliefs, yet pay scant regard to them when they vote in Parliament, or when in government.
The good news for the Liberal Party is that all they have to do to win elections is to act according to their stated Beliefs, and ensure the bureaucracies act accordingly. The bad news for Australia is that over the last decade, they seem incapable of doing this.
Below are the Liberal Party Beliefs and a few instances of how they are routinely ignored.
We Believe:
‘In the inalienable rights and freedoms of all peoples; and we work towards a lean government that minimises interference in our daily lives; and maximises individual and private sector initiative.’
The Liberals were in government from 2013-22, and during that time this statement was routinely ignored. What government departments were closed down? The Liberals did not work towards a ‘lean government which minimised interference in our lives’, instead they spent like drunken sailors. Government debt ballooned from $257 billion in 2013, to $895 billion in 2022 and they were unable to deliver a single Budget surplus.
They appointed the eSafety Commissioner, whom they continue to support, whilst authorising take-down notices on what Australians were posting on social media.
They used their bureaucracies to lock Australians out of Australia during Covid.
The Liberals were the ones who first proposed the misinformation and disinformation laws which they were later shamed into opposing when Labor were putting them before Parliament. And the Liberals continue to show their desire to interfere in our lives with their participation in rushing through the Online Safety Amendment (under 16) Bill, despite overwhelming concerns being raised from various experts and community groups.
‘In government that nurtures and encourages its citizens through incentive, rather than putting limits on people through the punishing disincentives of burdensome taxes and the stifling structures of Labor’s corporate state and bureaucratic red tape.’
As a business owner over the last 15 years, I have seen no reduction in red tape. Instead, I have seen a growing army of bureaucrats interfering in my business and industry, and the imposition of both ‘burdensome taxes’ and ‘bureaucratic red tape’.
It was a Liberal government that reduced financial planner numbers from 28,000 to 16,000, largely through a lack of financial viability due to increased burdensome and unnecessary red tape.
It was a Liberal government that imposed an ASIC levy, where I must now pay an additional annual tax of up to circa $5,000 per annum to cover the cost of ASIC’s operations. And it was a Liberal government which created a requirement for me to do 40 hours a year of certified training at a significant financial and time cost.
It was a Liberal government that imposed a new Compensation Scheme of Last Resort tax. Small financial planning businesses must pay this tax, yet large product manufacturers, who are often the cause of financial loss, don’t have to.
It was a Liberal government that damaged competition through ridiculous bureaucratic red tape requiring all fund managers to prepare ‘target market determinations’ on their products.
And it was a Liberal government that imposed Single Touch Payroll where all business owners must spend thousands of dollars to subscribe to a software provider in order to pay staff, even if they are the only staff member. As the Institute of Public Accountants acknowledged, ‘This initiative will increase the cost of doing business and imposes more administrative burdens on micro businesses.’ A micro business has less than 10 staff and represents the clear majority of businesses operating in Australia.
‘In those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy – the freedom of thought, worship, speech and association.’
Just not during Covid.
‘In a just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and justice is maintained.’
Just not during Covid.
And if the Liberals thought the family unit was important, they would consider income splitting, and have imposed some restraint on Woke. Woke thrived under the Liberal governments, and all were always too gutless to counter it. So instead, they embraced it.
The ridiculous national curriculum which directs maths to incorporate Indigenous dance, storytelling and reconciliation plans, is a Liberal government curriculum. The Liberals want Year 8 students to learn about circumferences by studying traditional weaving designs by First Nations Australians, Year 3 students to explore First Nations Australians’ stories and dances that show the connection between addition and subtraction, and Year 10 students to learn about Pythagoras’ theorem by exploring navigation, design of technologies or surveying by First Nations Australians.
It is the Liberals who funded our very own USAID equivalent, Australian Aid, to focus on: ‘Gender equality, disability and social inclusion analysis is the foundation for ensuring all DFAT investments are effective in reaching socially disadvantaged groups – by preventing unintended harm, exclusion, and further marginalisation.’
‘In equal opportunity for all Australians; and the encouragement and facilitation of wealth so that all may enjoy the highest possible standards of living, health, education, and social justice.’
Whilst the Liberals do have a focus on a Woke form of social justice, it is clear they have failed in providing the opportunity for high standards of education.
With regards to our standard of living, mass immigration helps grow GDP, but it is reducing the more relevant GDP per capita, and this impacts our standard of living.
The below chart’s timeframe is mainly under a Liberal government. A shameful result where our growth in living standards lag behind most other comparable countries.
‘That, wherever possible, government should not compete with an efficient private sector; and that businesses and individuals – not government – are the true creators of wealth and employment.’
If this were true, then the ABC and SBS would not be in existence. Instead, they are taxpayer-funded to compete against free-to-air channels, and everyone else with their streaming services.
Likewise, the inefficient and costly NBN would have been privatised by now.
‘In preserving Australia’s natural beauty and the environment for future generations.’
As do we all, however quarantining land over Native Title is very selective.
‘That our nation has a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace and democracy through alliance with other free nations.’
In addition to having Australian Aid actually focus on this instead of Woke, we also need to speak out when our allies behave badly. When 400 people are arrested in Russia for social media posts, but 3,300 are in the UK, our allies need a public talking to. Of course if we did, we’d be called hypocrites.
In summary, it is clear that the Liberals do not live up to what they claim. Say what you like about Labor, but at least you know what you will get, and that they will pursue their beliefs. With the Liberals, all you know with certainty is that they won’t pursue theirs.
The Liberals perpetually run scared. Now led by Peter Dutton, a career politician just shy of 25 years at the swamp, they can’t even prosecute case for why bureaucrats should work. (From an office that is.)
And they still haven’t worked out what a woman is:
Whilst Australia can’t afford another Labor government, we also can’t afford the lack of a centre-right Liberal party. All the Liberals need to do to win this election, and be honest with the electorate, is to ignore their focus groups (which must all be based in Canberra) and instead read their Beliefs and act accordingly.
Chris Cornish, disillusioned former Liberal, now Libertarian member
