In September 2018, shortly after Scott Morrison assumed the role of Australia’s prime minister, he gathered senior Liberal Party colleagues in Albury, the site where the party’s founding members met in 1944. This symbolic return sought to unite the party amid ongoing internal divisions that had threatened its stability. At that time, the Liberal Party faced significant challenges, including the departure of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who predicted Morrison would be a major electoral loser and that the party risked splitting.
The party’s difficulties were reflected in an array of setbacks, such as losing Turnbull’s former seat of Wentworth in a by-election and suffering a heavy defeat in the Victorian state election. Polling data indicated vulnerable positions in traditionally safe seats including Kooyong, Higgins, and Goldstein. Public support was low, with Newspoll figures showing the coalition trailing the opposition by 45 to 55 on a two-party-preferred basis.
In an effort to reduce internal instability, Morrison introduced a requirement that a two-thirds majority in the partyroom would be needed to remove a sitting prime minister. Despite this, a wave of retirements followed, with notable Liberals such as Julie Bishop, Christopher Pyne, and Kelly O’Dwyer signaling plans to leave politics. Tony Abbott, then the member for Warringah, faced a tough preselection battle amid local party dissatisfaction over his conduct during the leadership turmoil. He shifted his stance on climate policy, moving away from calls to withdraw from the Paris Agreement after the National Energy Guarantee was abandoned.
As Australia approached the 2019 federal election, Morrison’s government focused on delivering an economic narrative centered on fiscal responsibility. The treasurer advanced the federal budget presentation to April 2, unveiling tax cuts designed to foster growth within the context of a projected $7.1 billion surplus for the fiscal year ending June 2020. This was intended to contrast with the opposition’s platform, which emphasized increased spending and tax rises.
The election, called for May 18, unfolded against a backdrop of intense climate debates, especially in seats like Kooyong where the demographic profile had shifted toward younger and more progressive voters. The contest attracted significant attention due to the presence of multiple high-profile candidates, including Greens barrister Julian Burnside, Oliver Yates, former chief executive of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and Jana Stewart representing the Liberals.
A notable figure in these campaigns was Simon Holmes à Court, a wealthy climate advocate and son of Australia’s first billionaire, who had long engaged with political figures and sought to influence energy policy. Holmes à Court was seen as a persistent critic of the government’s National Energy Guarantee and maintained involvement in local party fundraising, albeit with divergent priorities.
During the campaign, treasurer Josh Frydenberg faced a legal challenge regarding his citizenship status, initiated by Michael Staindl, a self-described environmental activist previously associated with Labor and climate groups. The case alleged that Frydenberg’s mother held Hungarian citizenship, potentially disqualifying him under constitutional provisions. After extensive legal investigation, including work by Australian lawyers in Hungary, the Federal Court unanimously ruled that Frydenberg had never held Hungarian citizenship, dismissing the challenge decisively. The court also ordered Staindl to pay significant legal costs, though these were later reduced in settlement.
Following the 2019 election, which saw Morrison’s government securing a surprise victory, several high-profile Liberals, including Tony Abbott, suffered defeats to independent candidates advocating stronger climate action. Abbott lost his longtime seat of Warringah to independent Zali Steggall, marking the end of a 25-year parliamentary career and signaling a rise in the influence of climate-focused independents.
The Liberal Party’s experience during this period highlighted broad challenges related to internal cohesion, shifting electoral demographics, and the escalating importance of climate issues in Australian politics. It also underscored the complexities of navigating legal and political battles amid increasingly polarized campaigns.