Hard Truths for Conservatives
To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul. – Simone Weil
Conservatism is waning in Australia. Not because it is any less relevant or compelling as an ideology, in fact the opposite is true. In an age of disruption and relentless novelty, the desire for stability, continuity and simplicity is stronger, not weaker. The call to preserve what is good, true and beautiful, and leave a world better than we found it still resonates with us as it has done since ancient times. In a world that is hyper-individualistic, where moral certainty is supplanted by a million shouting versions of “my truth”, conservatism speaks deeply to the human desire to be rooted in and live for something beyond the self – be it family, faith or community.
It is this enduring, deep-seated appeal of conservative values that has underpinned the success of conservative political parties for centuries. If the Liberals are to return to political relevance in Australia and regain support among the formerly conservative constituencies that have abandoned us (women, young families and the educated), we need to confront some uncomfortable truths.
Firstly, conservatism is not unpopular because of indoctrination. The only ideology kids in Australia are indoctrinated with is the old-fashioned virtues of fairness and respect for others. Failure to teach traditional values is not the problem, rather it seems they’ve been taught too well - it is by these same standards that many people have listened to conservatives and judged them to be bigots.
Nor is the problem a failure of our leaders to adhere to so-called “conservative” positions on hot-button issues. There has been no shortage of prominent conservatives making the case against gay marriage, the voice, net zero, trans ideology, etc. These issues are important, but instead of coming across as sensible and considered, we often come across as nasty, and in the case of the environment, irresponsible.
I am not suggesting conservatives abandon their convictions or shy away from difficult conversations, but repairing our reputation means approaching these conversations with humility and respect. It also means being selective. There are so many important problems our country is facing, why focus on debates that highlight our ugliest side? Are these really the issues worth spending our political capital on?
What about the defence of Australia? What about restoring respect and academic performance in schools, or dealing with the scourge of homelessness and domestic violence? Who will fight for the changes needed to restore the fraying generational bargain, rein in our burgeoning debt and lift our anaemic productivity growth. On these issues we can show conservatism at its best: sensible, principled and practical.
To win back support, we must restore our moral credibility. Not through self-righteous lecturing about ‘family values’ (a phrase that for many translates as ‘the good old days when women did the ironing’), but through being more respectful, considered and honourable than our opponents. We do it by making fairness, truth and integrity the pattern of our language and our politics.
If we are to shake our reputation as environmental vandals, we must demonstrate real commitment to climate action. I have genuine respect for climate sceptics. Scientific consensus has often been wrong in the past and progress depends on constant questioning and a commitment to evidence. Nevertheless, climate denial is not the only legitimate conservative stance on the issue. Opposition to net zero and renewables is very much a minority view in Australia, and the Liberal Party is a mainstream party. The sceptics should carry on their scepticism, but they should also show some respect for the views of the Australian people, and stop trying to make this the hill we die on.
Another source of our troubles is that too often, rather than defending what is good and true, we have found ourselves defending the indefensible.
Who defended the church when the abuse was exposed? Who defended the architects of the stolen generation? Who makes excuses for Trump? Who sided with Lehrmann and Roberts-Smith? Conservatives. Every time. Not all conservatives of course, but enough to cement our reputation as the defenders of morally corrupt leaders and institutions, and excusers of injustice. It’s one thing standing up for the rule of law and presumption of innocence, but more often it just looks like the boys club protecting their own.
Let’s be frank. Young people, educated people and women don’t like us because they think we are bigots, they think we are hypocrites and they think we are environmental vandals. We could have the best policy platform, the most charismatic leader and a billion-dollar campaign budget and they still wouldn’t vote for us. And if they won’t vote for us, they certainly won’t join our ranks or stand for preselection, and no quotas can change that.
There is only one way to win them back: prove them wrong. Call out the so-called conservatives who spew bigotry in the media. Show people that this is not what conservatism is. Deal honestly with our history – the good and the bad. Listen with humility and show respect for our opponents. Make our arguments based on truth and the common good, not fear and prejudice.
Our country has progressive fatigue. People are sick of the perpetual outrage, the cancel culture and the virtue signalling. They want something solid, sensible and morally credible. Conservatism, at its best, offers this and more. It offers a vision of human dignity, order and flourishing rooted in timeless truths. It is a creed that does not need defending, because its virtues are self-evident. Nor does it need a sales pitch – its values are already embedded in the hearts and minds of the people. What it needs are standard-bearers who live up to its lofty ideals.