140-780: The Liberal Party of Australia is a centre-right political party in Australia . It is one of the two major parties in Australian politics , the other being the Australian Labor Party . The Liberal Party was founded in 1944 as the successor to the United Australia Party . Historically the most successful political party in Australia’s history, the Liberal Party is now in opposition at
280-820: A double dissolution election for April 1951 , after the Labor-controlled Senate rejected his banking legislation. The Liberal-Country Coalition was returned with control of the Senate . The Government was re-elected again at the 1954 election ; the formation of the anti-Communist Democratic Labor Party (DLP) and the consequent split in the Australian Labor Party early in 1955 helped the Liberals to secure another victory in December 1955 . John McEwen replaced Arthur Fadden as leader of
420-574: A liberal variant of conservatism . Conservative centre-right parties are more likely to incorporate ethnic nationalism relative to liberal centre-right parties. Conservatives and liberals both oppose heavy governmental involvement in the economy. Right-liberalism is common in Europe, contrasted with the centrist liberalism in Canada and the United Kingdom, and with the left-liberalism of
560-580: A GST by the time of his 1993 election victory). Howard's premiership coincided with Al Qaeda's 11 September attacks on the United States. The Howard government invoked the ANZUS treaty in response to the attacks and supported America's campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the 2004 federal elections the party strengthened its majority in the lower house and, with its coalition partners, became
700-484: A boomerang throwing display on the lawns of Parliament. Bonner went on to win election at the 1972 election and served as a Liberal Senator for 12 years. He worked on Indigenous and social welfare issues and proved an independent minded Senator, often crossing the floor on Parliamentary votes. The McMahon government ended when Gough Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party out of its 23-year period in Opposition at
840-525: A centre-right coalition in Venezuela. Canada was one of the last Anglosphere countries for the centre-right to be restored after World War II, with no centre-right parties holding power until the premiership of Stephen Harper in 2006. The 2007–2008 financial crisis was followed by a decline in support for major centre-right and centre-left parties through the 2010s. For the centre-right, this occurred most prominently in newer democracies, while support
980-653: A challenge for Christian democracy, causing it to lose political influence. African political parties rapidly began joining political internationals in the 1990s. Among the centre-right, collaboration began between the Ghana New Patriotic Party , the Malawi Congress Party , and the Kenya Democratic Party . Japan, which had been ruled almost consistently by the centre-right Liberal Democratic Party for decades, saw
1120-650: A conference of conservative parties and other groups opposed to the ruling Australian Labor Party, which met in Canberra on 13 October 1944 and again in Albury , New South Wales in December 1944. Outlining his vision for a new political movement, Menzies said: [W]hat we must look for, and it is a matter of desperate importance to our society, is a true revival of liberal thought which will work for social justice and security, for national power and national progress, and for
1260-689: A consolidation of the middle-class at the expense of socialist parties. These centre-right parties gained influence during the Depression of 1920–1921 , where they responded with measures such as a restoration of the gold standard . Among the strongest of these parties were National Bloc and its successors in France, the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, and a coalition of the Catholic Conservative Party and
1400-752: A deep and bitter split within the Australian public, as well as within his own party. The extent to which he engineered this split has been hotly debated ever since, and was even at the time regarded as ironic by many in the Labor movement, given Hughes' violent hostility to earlier Labor dissidents like Joseph Cook . On 15 September 1916, the New South Wales executive of the Political Labour League (the Labor Party organisation at
1540-866: A dominant political force in much of the western world over the following decades, including the American Republican Party as led by Dwight D. Eisenhower , one-nation conservatism of the British Conservative Party, and Gaullism of the Rally of the French People . Europe had little appetite for nationalist ideologies after the end of fascism, so Christian democracy was popularised as an alternative right-wing ideology. Instead of nationalism, its ideas were based on traditional values , pragmatism, and support for moderate state intervention. Its conception of government
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#17327762076161680-754: A federal level, although it presently holds government in Tasmania , Queensland and the Northern Territory at a sub-national level. The Liberal Party is the dominant partner in the Coalition with the National Party of Australia . At the federal level, the Liberal Party has been in coalition with the National Party (under various names) in both government and opposition since its creation, with only brief interruptions. The Coalition
1820-716: A federal structure, with autonomous divisions in all six states and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The Country Liberal Party (CLP) of the Northern Territory is an affiliate. Both the CLP and the Liberal National Party (LNP), the Queensland state division, were formed through mergers of the local Liberal and National parties. At state and territory level, the Liberal Party is in office in two states and one territory. The party
1960-878: A former World War II Royal Australian Air Force pilot, with a battle scarred face, said he was "Australian to the bootheels" and had a personal style which often affronted some conservatives. The Gorton government increased funding for the arts, setting up the Australian Council for the Arts , the Australian Film Development Corporation and the National Film and Television Training School. The Gorton government passed legislation establishing equal pay for men and women and increased pensions, allowances and education scholarships, as well as providing free health care to 250,000 of
2100-660: A group of Labor Party defectors led by Joseph Lyons , the Nationalist Party was absorbed into the new United Australia Party . Although the UAP was dominated by former Nationalists, Lyons was chosen as leader rather than Latham. The UAP replaced the Nationalists as the main non-Labor party. The Western Australian branch retained the Nationalist name after the formation of the UAP, and did so until it and most of
2240-666: A landslide at the resulting 1975 election . Fraser maintained some of the social reforms of the Whitlam era, while seeking increased fiscal restraint. His majority included the first Aboriginal federal parliamentarian, Neville Bonner , and in 1976, Parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 , which, while limited to the Northern Territory, affirmed "inalienable" freehold title to some traditional lands. The Fraser government also established
2380-607: A larger extent during the Howard Liberal government (most famously the GST), while unemployment benefits and bulk billing were re-targeted for a time by the Abbott Liberal government. Labor's Paul Keating lost the 1996 Election to the Liberals' John Howard . The Liberals had been in Opposition for 13 years. With John Howard as prime minister, Peter Costello as treasurer and Alexander Downer as foreign minister,
2520-570: A means to limit the appeal of the nationalism that had led to fascism. In the United States, the centre-right was associated with the Rockefeller Republican faction of the Republican Party. The American centre-right promoted pro-business stances over the following decades, which led to economic justifications for supporting higher taxes as well as social programs such as public housing . Christian democrats supported
2660-425: A minority government with support from Cook and his Commonwealth Liberal Party . With the war dragging on, Hughes began negotiations with Cook to turn their confidence-and-supply agreement into formal party unity. That February, at the urging of the governor-general, Sir Robert Munro Ferguson , the two groups formally merged to form the Nationalist Party, with Hughes as leader and Cook as deputy leader. The new party
2800-545: A modest welfare state, and the European centre-right was reluctant to support more radical initiatives to liberalise the economy. In Southeast Asia, the centre-right secured power in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, implementing growth-oriented policies based on free market policies with moderate governmental intervention, leading to significant economic expansion. The centre-right rose to power in Greece with
2940-402: A number of major defence and trade treaties that set Australia on its post-war trajectory out of Britain's orbit; opened up Australia to multi-ethnic immigration; and instigated important legal reforms regarding Aboriginal Australians. Menzies was strongly opposed to Labor's plans under Ben Chifley to nationalise the Australian banking system and, following victory at the 1949 election, secured
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#17327762076163080-453: A period of opposition to immigration in Europe at this time. By the 1980s, the post-war consensus had ended, with the new right supporting neoconservatism and neoliberalism . At this time, centre-right parties took a more active role in challenging the welfare state and union influence. The predominantly centre-right United States Republican Party began a rightward shift in the 1980s, with its moderate factions declining in numbers over
3220-415: A political force with the creation of party systems in the 19th century, when monarchist and religious conservatives competed with individualist and anti-clerical liberals. Christian democracy developed in the 1870s as another response to anti-clericalism. The centre-right provided a moderate position to compete with socialism in the 19th century, and it became a driving force for liberal democracy in
3360-546: A powerful conservative women's organisation, also merged with the new party. A conservative youth group Menzies had set up, the Young Nationalists , was also merged into the new party. It became the nucleus of the Liberal Party's youth division, the Young Liberals . By September 1945 there were more than 90,000 members, many of whom had not previously been members of any political party. In New South Wales,
3500-470: A proliferation of centre-right opposition parties by the 1990s, with new parties forming and established parties shifting toward the centre-right to remain competitive. Following the rise of the Third Way among left-wing politics in the 1990s, the centre-right was forced to moderate, sacrificing the more aggressive aspects of right-wing politics that developed in the 1980s and abandoning its opposition to
3640-412: A religious justification for supporting democratisation , individual liberties , and international cooperation. Christian democrats hold conservative positions on most issues, but in a more moderate fashion than groups specifically described as conservative, and they trend centrist on economic issues. Instead of a strong government, it advocates decentralisation where other social units such as family,
3780-801: A row in October 2016 . The Liberals fared little better in 2017 with the Barnett-led Liberal-National government in Western Australia also suffered a landslide defeat in March . Centre-right politics Centre-right politics is the set of right-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre . It is commonly associated with conservatism , Christian democracy , liberal conservatism , and conservative liberalism . Conservative and liberal centre-right parties have historically been more successful in
3920-589: A significant program of economic reform was never pursued. By 1983, the Australian economy was suffering with the early 1980s recession and amidst the effects of a severe drought. Fraser had promoted "states' rights" and his government refused to use Commonwealth powers to stop the construction of the Franklin Dam in Tasmania in 1982. The Liberal Party lost to the Bob Hawke -led Australian Labor Party in
4060-453: A wider margin. Hughes, after receiving a vote of no confidence in his leadership by his party, resigned as prime minister. However, with no alternative candidates available, Ferguson used his reserve power to immediately re-commission Hughes as prime minister. Hughes was thus able to remain in office while having kept his promise to resign. Hughes and the Nationalists were reelected almost as easily in 1919 . They governed on their own until
4200-539: A year later came the invasion of South Korea by Communist North Korea . Anti-Communism was a key political issue of the 1950s and 1960s. Menzies was firmly anti-Communist; he committed troops to the Korean War and attempted to ban the Communist Party of Australia in an unsuccessful referendum during the course of that war. The Labor Party split over concerns about the influence of the Communist Party over
4340-694: Is also associated with anti-communism , which earned it support during the Cold War . Culturally, the centre-right has prioritised national and religious identity, especially by the mid-20th century. It has used religion and moral values as uniting elements, particularly with the middle class . European centre-right parties place higher priority on Christianity and providing support to Christians—a trait often shared with their far-right counterparts. The centre-right more strongly supports freedom of religion overall, as opposed to generalised support of human rights expressed by left-wing ideologies. As European
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4480-449: Is continuous with that of the 19th century, and Christian democracy is sometimes regarded separately from the typical right-wing voter bloc. Conservatism is commonly grouped with the centre-right, though adherents of the far-right may argue that the centre-right is insufficiently conservative. Liberalism is sometimes grouped with the centre-right when it is expressed as conservative liberalism . The centre-right can also include
4620-556: Is derived from the left–right political spectrum , which originated with the seating arrangements of the National Assembly during the French Revolution . The centre-right came into being in the 19th century, developing with the earliest political parties . Modern conservatism was derived from the ideas of British philosopher Edmund Burke and various 17th century figures who preceded him. The liberal movement
4760-465: Is heterogeneous and encompasses multiple distinct ideologies. Centre-right parties and coalitions are traditionally understood to be divided into separate factions depending on their priorities: economic, social, and cultural. They are unified by their opposition to left-wing politics . Christian democracy is a political ideology predominant in Europe that is often described as centre-right. It applies Christian morality to political issues, giving
4900-562: Is in opposition in the states of New South Wales , Victoria , South Australia , and Western Australia , and in the ACT. The party's ideology has been referred to as liberal , conservative , liberal-conservative , conservative-liberal , and classical liberal . The Liberal Party tends to promote economic liberalism and social conservatism . The National Right faction of the Liberal Party has also been referred to as right-wing , and right-wing populist . The Liberals' immediate predecessor
5040-444: Is more likely to present immigration as a prominent issue when it is placed in the context of economic and cultural policy. Right-wing politics has historically opposed social acceptance of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, but the European centre-right has come to support protections on the basis of sexual orientation. Some centre-right groups have taken the position that gay marriage and adoption by gay couples are an extension of
5180-589: Is the Brisbane City Council , where both Sallyanne Atkinson and Campbell Newman have been elected Lord Mayor of Brisbane . Following the 2007 federal election, Dr Brendan Nelson was elected leader by the Parliamentary Liberal Party. On 16 September 2008, in a second contest following a spill motion , Nelson lost the leadership to Malcolm Turnbull . On 1 December 2009, a subsequent leadership election saw Turnbull lose
5320-536: The 1932 Victorian state election were Young Nationalists, almost trebling their parliamentary representation. The premier, Sir Stanley Argyle , included three of them in his eight-person cabinet, including Menzies as deputy premier. Later, when Menzies founded the Liberal Party of Australia , he invited delegates from the Young Nationalists to attend. The Young Nationalists followed the UAP into
5460-567: The 1949 election , and the party stayed in office for a record 23 years— the longest unbroken run ever in government at the federal level. Australia experienced prolonged economic growth during the post-war boom period of the Menzies government (1949–66) and Menzies fulfilled his promises at the 1949 election to end rationing of butter, tea and petrol and provided a five-shilling endowment for first-born children, as well as for others. While himself an unashamed Anglophile, Menzies' government concluded
5600-547: The 1966 election . Holt remained prime minister until 19 December 1967, when he was declared presumed dead two days after disappearing in rough surf in which he had gone for a swim. His body has never been found. Holt increased Australian commitment to the growing War in Vietnam , which met with some public opposition. His government oversaw conversion to decimal currency . Holt faced Britain's withdrawal from Asia by visiting and hosting many Asian leaders and by expanding ties to
5740-510: The 1983 election . A period of division for the Liberals followed, with former Treasurer John Howard competing with former foreign minister Andrew Peacock for supremacy. The Australian economy was facing the early 1990s recession . Unemployment reached 11.4% in 1992. Under Dr John Hewson , in November 1991, the opposition launched the 650-page Fightback! policy document—a radical collection of dry ( economic liberal ) measures including
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5880-478: The 1993 election , led by Premiers Dean Brown , John Olsen and Rob Kerin through two terms, until their defeat at the 2002 election . They remained in opposition for 16 years, under a record five opposition leaders , until Steven Marshall led the party to victory in 2018. The dual aligned Country Liberal Party governed the Northern Territory from 1978 to 2001. The party has held office in Western Australia intermittently since 1947. Liberal Richard Court
6020-689: The ANZUS Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States in San Francisco in 1951. External Affairs Minister Percy Spender had put forward the proposal to work along similar lines to the NATO Alliance. The Treaty declared that any attack on one of the three parties in the Pacific area would be viewed as a threat to each, and that the common danger would be met in accordance with each nation's constitutional processes. In 1954,
6160-462: The Anglosphere , while Christian democracy has been the primary centre-right ideology in Europe. The centre-right commonly supports ideas such as small government , law and order , freedom of religion , and strong national security . It has historically stood in opposition to radical politics , redistributive policies , multiculturalism , immigration , and LGBT acceptance. Economically,
6300-478: The Australian Constitution which excluded Aboriginal Australians from being counted in the census – the referendum was one of the few to be overwhelmingly endorsed by the Australian electorate (over 90% voted "Yes"). By the end of 1967, the Liberals' initially popular support for the war in Vietnam was causing increasing public protest. The Liberals chose John Gorton to replace Holt. Gorton,
6440-799: The Centrist Democrat International and centre-right liberal parties are affiliated with the International Democracy Union . In Europe, centre-right parties are affiliated with the European People's Party . Centre-right politics is associated with conservative positions on social and cultural issues and free-market liberal positions on economic issues—centre-right parties see their strongest support among demographics that share all of these positions. It broadly supports small government , though different factions hold different beliefs about when
6580-628: The Great Depression set in. In nations where the centre-right lacked a unified party, such as Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, far-right movements seized power. Strong pre-existing centre-right parties retained power in other countries, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The use of market economics to keep wages steady, as well as the relative weakness of labour unions, meant that centre-right liberalism went unchallenged in much of Europe. In
6720-705: The Howard government remained in power until their electoral defeat to Kevin Rudd in 2007. Howard generally framed the Liberals as being conservative on social policy, debt reduction and matters like maintaining Commonwealth links and the American Alliance but his premiership saw booming trade with Asia and expanding multiethnic immigration. His government concluded the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement with
6860-439: The Liberal National government in Queensland was defeated just three years after its historic landslide victory. The New South Wales Liberal-National Coalition, however, managed to win re-election in March 2015 . In 2016 the Federal Liberals narrowly won re-election in July 2016 while the Liberal-affiliated Country Liberals suffered a historic defeat in the Northern Territory and Canberra Liberals lost their fifth election in
7000-461: The Nationalist Party of Australia in 1917. That party, in turn, merged with Labor dissidents to form the UAP in 1931. The UAP had been formed as a new conservative alliance in 1931, with Labor defector Joseph Lyons as its leader. The stance of Lyons and other Labor rebels against the more radical proposals of the Labor movement to deal the Great Depression had attracted the support of prominent Australian conservatives. With Australia still suffering
7140-464: The New Democracy party in the 1970s, led by Konstantinos Karamanlis as Greece transitioned from dictatorship to democracy. Spain and Portugal underwent similar transitions as they emerged from dictatorship. The 1970s saw decreasing support for welfare policies with the end of the postwar economic boom and the economic fallout of the 1970s energy crisis . This led to increased support for privatisation and cuts in welfare spending. It also led
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#17327762076167280-408: The New South Wales division of the Liberal Party replaced the Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party between January and April 1945. In Queensland, the Queensland People's Party did not become part of the Liberal Party until July 1949, when it became the Queensland division of the Liberal Party. After an initial loss to Labor at the 1946 election , Menzies led the Liberals to victory at
7420-401: The Playmander . The LCL's Steele Hall governed for one term from the 1968 election to the 1970 election and during this time began the process of dismantling the Playmander. David Tonkin , as leader of the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia , became premier at the 1979 election for one term, losing office at the 1982 election . The Liberals returned to power at
7560-494: The Radicals in Switzerland. Christian democracy found a place among the European centre-right during the interwar period . Centre-right parties became the primary supporters of liberal democracy at this time, challenging the historical association of liberalism with the labour movement . The liberal centre-right opposed the other two European ideologies that were growing in popularity: fascism and social democracy . The European centre-right declined between 1931 and 1935 as
7700-412: The aftermath of World War II , the old centre-right was discredited in Europe, where it was seen as responsible for the Great Depression and complicit in the rise of fascism. European centre-right parties worked closely with the centre-left and the political centre in the post-war era , helping to define the welfare state, democratic consolidation , and European integration . They sought to avoid
7840-522: The elections of 1922 , when the newly emerged Country Party gained the balance of power in the House of Representatives . The Nationalists had come up 12 seats short of a majority, and could only realistically hope for support from the Country Party. It was obvious that a confidence-and-supply agreement would not be enough to keep the Nationalists in office. However, the Country Party had never liked Hughes' rural policy, and its leader Earle Page let it be known that he would not serve under him. Several of
7980-413: The 1970s caused a rise in support for neoliberalism and neoconservatism . The dissolution of the Soviet Union allowed a new centre-right movement to develop and take power in Central and Eastern Europe through the 1990s. The 2007–2008 financial crisis led to declining support for the centre-right, and the following decade saw it replaced by greater support for far-right politics . The centre-right
8120-399: The 1972 election. Following Whitlam's victory, John Gorton played a further role in reform in October 1973 by successfully moving a motion, seconded by Labor minister Moss Cass , which decriminalised homosexuality on a federal and territory level . Billy Snedden led the party against Whitlam in the 1974 federal election , which saw a return of the Labor government. When Malcolm Fraser won
8260-411: The Bush administration in 2004. Howard differed from his Labor predecessor Paul Keating in that he supported traditional Australian institutions like the monarchy in Australia , the commemoration of ANZAC Day and the design of the Australian flag, but like Keating he pursued privatisation of public utilities and the introduction of a broad based consumption tax (although Keating had dropped support for
8400-417: The Coalition winning back its losses in the House of Representatives. Menzies went on to resign from parliament on 26 January 1966. Menzies came to power the year the Communist Party of Australia had led a coal strike to improve pit miners' working conditions. That same year Joseph Stalin 's Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb , and Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party to power in China;
8540-516: The Cold War, centre-right groups supported the United States and the Western Bloc , opposing the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc . In several countries, centre-right parties were opposed by domestic communism on top of their opposition to the Soviet Union. As suffrage expanded and the centre-right spread across social classes, cultural issues and social identity, such as support for nationalism and religion, became more prominent themes. The European centre-right began supporting social integration as
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#17327762076168680-408: The Country Party in March 1958 and the Menzies-McEwen Coalition was returned again at elections in November 1958 —their third victory against Labor's H. V. Evatt . The Coalition was narrowly returned against Labor's Arthur Calwell in the December 1961 election , in the midst of a credit squeeze. Menzies stood for office for the last time at the November 1963 election , again defeating Calwell, with
8820-478: The Country Party in cabinet (out of 11), with Page as treasurer and number-two man in the government. Such demands were unheard of for such a young party in a Westminster system. However, Bruce agreed to the terms rather than force another election. This was the start of the traditional coalition of non-Labor parties . With the ouster of Hughes, the Nationalists took on a decidedly more conservative hue. Despite initial concerns that Australians wouldn't readily support
8960-416: The Fightback package, and particularly against the GST, which he described as an attack on the working class in that it shifted the tax burden from direct taxation of the wealthy to indirect taxation as a broad-based consumption tax . Pressure group activity and public opinion was relentless, which led Hewson to exempt food from the proposed GST—leading to questions surrounding the complexity of what food
9100-439: The Government's money bills in the Senate , until the government would promise a new election. Whitlam refused, yet Fraser insisted, leading to the divisive 1975 Australian constitutional crisis . The deadlock came to an end when the Whitlam government was controversially dismissed by the governor-general , Sir John Kerr on 11 November 1975 and Fraser was installed as caretaker prime minister, pending an election. Fraser won in
9240-433: The Labor caucus to succeed him. Hughes was a strong supporter of Australia's participation in World War I , and after a visit to Britain in 1916, where the Military Service Act 1916 had been passed earlier in the year, he became convinced that conscription was necessary if Australia was to sustain its contribution to the war effort. A majority of his party, most notably Roman Catholics and trade union representatives,
9380-431: The Liberal Party leadership from Snedden in 1975, Gorton walked out of the Party Room, and quit the party shortly afterwards; he would go on to denounce the dismissal of the Whitlam Government , and endorsed and voted for Labor in the 1975 election . Following the 1974–75 Loans Affair , the Malcolm Fraser -led Liberal-Country Party Coalition argued that the Whitlam government was incompetent and so delayed passage of
9520-443: The Liberal Party was in opposition throughout Australia at the state and federal level; the highest Liberal office-holder at the time was Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman . This ended after the 2008 Western Australian state election , when Colin Barnett became premier of that state. At the state level, the Liberals have been dominant for long periods in all states except Queensland, where they have always held fewer seats than
9660-420: The Menzies government signed the South East Asia Collective Defence Treaty ( SEATO ) as a South East Asian counterpart to NATO. That same year, Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov and his wife defected from the Soviet embassy in Canberra , revealing evidence of Russian spying activities; Menzies called a Royal Commission to investigate. In 1956, a committee headed by Sir Keith Murray was established to inquire into
9800-506: The National Party. The Liberals were in power in Victoria from 1955 to 1982. Jeff Kennett led the party back to office in that state in 1992, and remained premier until 1999. In South Australia, initially a Liberal and Country Party affiliated party, the Liberal and Country League (LCL), mostly led by Premier of South Australia Tom Playford , was in power from the 1933 election to the 1965 election , though with assistance from an electoral malapportionment , or gerrymander , known as
9940-517: The New South Wales Liberal-National Coalition led by Barry O'Farrell won government with the largest election victory in post-war Australian history at the State Election . In Queensland, the Liberal and National parties merged in 2008 to form the new Liberal National Party of Queensland (registered as the Queensland Division of the Liberal Party of Australia). In March 2012, the new party achieved Government in an historic landslide, led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman . In March 2013,
10080-465: The Northern Territory had been excluded from voting unless they were ex-servicemen). In 1949, the Liberals appointed Dame Enid Lyons as the first woman to serve in an Australian Cabinet . Menzies remained a staunch supporter of links to the monarchy and British Commonwealth but formalised an alliance with the United States and concluded the Agreement on Commerce between Australia and Japan which
10220-620: The Prime Ministership on the eve of war. Menzies served as Prime Minister from 1939 to 1941 but resigned as leader of the minority World War II government amidst an unworkable parliamentary majority. The UAP, led by Billy Hughes, disintegrated after suffering a heavy defeat in the 1943 election . In New South Wales, the party merged with the Commonwealth Party to form the Democratic Party , In Queensland
10360-523: The Soviet Union encouraged close alignment with the United States and strong support for combatting dictatorships. The centre-right in this region fragmented at the onset of the 21st century as much of the centre-right shifted away from liberalism to more conservative and nationalist politics with a strong stance against European integration. As Islamism lost support in Turkey, many Islamists moved to
10500-594: The United States, hosting the first visit to Australia by an American president, his friend Lyndon B. Johnson . Holt's government introduced the Migration Act 1966 , which effectively dismantled the White Australia Policy and increased access to non-European migrants, including refugees fleeing the Vietnam War . Holt also called the 1967 Referendum which removed the discriminatory clause in
10640-437: The United States. Economic ideologies associated with the centre-right include neoliberalism and market liberalism . Other ideologies sometimes grouped under the centre-right descriptor include agrarianism and populist nationalism . Centre-right liberal and conservative parties have historically been successful in the Anglosphere , such as those in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and they have made up
10780-754: The Western Australian Liberal-National government won re-election, and Tony Abbott led the party to government at the 2013 Australian federal election . The party won government in Tasmania in 2014 and lost their fourth election in a row at the South Australian election . However, the Victorian Liberal-National government, now led by Denis Napthine , became the first one term government in Victoria in 60 years. Similarly, just two months later,
10920-417: The abolition of state payroll taxes and the privatisation of a large number of government owned enterprises − representing the start of a very different future direction to the keynesian economic policies practised by previous Liberal/National Coalition governments. The 15 percent GST was the centrepiece of the policy document. Through 1992, Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating mounted a campaign against
11060-556: The aloof Bruce, the Nationalist-Country Coalition won a great victory in the federal election of 1925 . It was re-elected in 1928 , though with a significantly reduced mandate. However, only a year later, Hughes led a group of backbenchers to cross the floor on a vote on Bruce's plans to reform the industrial arbitration system. In the subsequent election the Coalition was heavily defeated, suffering what
11200-400: The beginning of the 21st century, but by the 2010s these groups had lost influence as the Republican Party shifted from the centre-right to right-wing populism . The centre-right underwent a decline throughout the western world in the late 2010s and early 2020s, led by demographic changes such as increased tertiary education and ethnic diversity as well as the waning influence of religion and
11340-563: The centre-left—this included parties in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. The 2000s also saw an example of a successful populist centre-right party with the ascension of Forza Italia , led by Silvio Berlusconi . During the 2003 invasion of Iraq , centre-right parties in Europe were more likely to send military forces than centre-left parties. This was especially true in Central and Eastern Europe, where memories of
11480-759: The centre-right lacked experience in political organisation, many of the first-generation centre-right movements lost momentum and faded into irrelevance in the years thereafter. Nationalism and populism became the dominant political forces here until the end of the decade. Centre-right liberals in Central and Eastern Europe supported integration with the Western World and acceleration of industrialisation, while conservatives wished to preserve individual national identities and protect Catholic traditions from Western secularism. Post-communist centre-right groups were more inclined toward liberal positions, favouring market capitalist policies over government intervention, which
11620-475: The centre-right secularises, it becomes less likely to support conservative positions on social issues . Centre-right parties that take strong stances on cultural issues are more susceptible to radicalise and adopt far-right positions. While opposition to immigration is most commonly associated with far-right politics , the centre-right can attract support from voters with more moderate anti-immigrant positions. Centre-right opposition to immigration comes from
11760-423: The centre-right supports free markets and the social market economy , with market liberalism and neoliberalism being common centre-right economic positions. It typically seeks to preserve the cultural and socioeconomic status quo and believes that changes should be implemented gradually . The centre-right is derived from the left–right political spectrum of the French Revolution . It first developed as
11900-589: The centre-right until a leftward shift among women took place over the 1970s and 1980s. Eastern and Central Europe were introduced to centre-right politics in the 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union . These movements—which preferred not to be identified as parties due to the term's association with communism—were made up of intellectual groups that had been dissidents during communist rule. The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland all had strong opposition movements under communism, allowing these movements to form strong centre-right parties. In nations where
12040-748: The centre-right's handling of economic crises reached a crescendo with public demonstrations that relegated the centre-right to a relatively ineffective opposition. Colombia was an exception, where the long-standing centre-right dominance remained unchallenged. Centre-right parties retook power in several Latin American countries by the 2010s, including the National Renewal in Chile and the Republican Proposal in Argentina, as well as
12180-509: The centre-right, forming the new Justice and Development Party . This party was more accepting of secularism and neoliberalism, and it became the nation's dominant political force. Although citizens throughout Latin America most commonly self-identified as centre-right, the region saw a surge of popularity for expanding government programs and state ownership , leading to a leftward shift that began in 1998. In Bolivia, dissatisfaction with
12320-412: The challenge that immigration presents to the status quo and to national identity. Supporters of centre-right politics in Europe often fear that immigration will lead to consequences such as increased crime , abuse of welfare , or acts of terrorism . Centre-right political parties sometimes take stronger positions against multiculturalism to gain an advantage over far-right parties. The centre-right
12460-721: The communist People's Republic of China in July 1971 — only to have the US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger announce a planned visit soon after. During McMahon's period in office, Neville Bonner joined the Senate and became the first Indigenous Australian in the Australian Parliament . Bonner was chosen by the Liberal Party to fill a Senate vacancy in 1971 and celebrated his maiden parliamentary speech with
12600-505: The community, and various organisations are major actors in society. While still supporting a market economy, Christian democrats are more open to state intervention than conservatives, so as to prevent social inequality . Unlike historical Christian political movements, Christian democracy is non-denominational and is not affiliated with the Catholic Church . Political scientists disagree as to whether post-war Christian democracy
12740-592: The creation of a strong Christian democratic movement in Italy, which was a leading political force in various coalitions for over 50 years. The United Kingdom was the only major exception to the spread of Christian democracy, as its old centre-right was seen as triumphant under the wartime leadership of Winston Churchill , and the failure of Nazi Germany to invade meant that its pre-war institutions remained intact. Here conservatism remained dominant, meaning less state intervention relative to other European nations. During
12880-539: The early 20th century. The centre-right was reconfigured after World War II to temper support for nationalism; it became a dominant political position throughout the Western world , particularly with the spread of Christian democracy across Europe. It aligned with the Western bloc during the Cold War, and in Europe it heavily influenced democratic consolidation and European integration . Global economic downturn in
13020-538: The economy to regulate how business may be conducted, but it opposes nationalisation or infringement on the free market . Social market economies allow cooperation between employers and unions, and they provide for basic welfare programs, though centre-right parties that have less appeal among working class voters have less incentive to dedicate themselves to these positions. Centre-right conservatives oppose redistributive policies , believing that individuals should be allowed to retain their wealth. This tends to attract
13160-405: The economy, its incrementalist approach to politics, and its support for the status quo have been attributed to its ability to remain in power for extended periods of time. The centre-right commonly supports a social market economy , rejecting both socialism and laissez-faire capitalism. First developed by Christian democrats in post-war Germany, this system allows the state to intervene in
13300-589: The effects of the Great Depression, the newly formed party won a landslide victory at the 1931 Election, and the Lyons government went on to win three consecutive elections. It largely avoided Keynesian pump-priming and pursued a more conservative fiscal policy of debt reduction and balanced budgets as a means of stewarding Australia out of the Depression. Lyons' death in 1939 saw Robert Menzies assume
13440-482: The far-right and far-left politics that had brought about Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, respectively, and they saw European integration as a means to protect against socialism and anti-Christianity. The modern centre-right developed in response as a political unification of several distinct right-wing schools of thought. Ideological diversity meant flexibility in policy positions, but it also caused factionalism across centre-right parties. The centre-right became
13580-624: The financial plight of Australia's universities, and Menzies injected funds into the sector under conditions which preserved the autonomy of universities. Menzies continued the expanded immigration programme established under Chifley, and took important steps towards dismantling the White Australia Policy . In the early-1950s, external affairs minister Percy Spender helped to establish the Colombo Plan for providing economic aid to underdeveloped nations in Australia's region. Under that scheme many future Asian leaders studied in Australia. In 1958,
13720-557: The first federal government in twenty years to gain an absolute majority in the Senate . This control of both houses permitted their passing of legislation without the need to negotiate with independents or minor parties, exemplified by industrial relations legislation known as WorkChoices , a wide-ranging effort to increase deregulation of industrial laws in Australia. In 2005, Howard reflected on his government's cultural and foreign policy outlook in oft repeated terms: When I became Prime Minister nine years ago, I believed that this nation
13860-559: The following decades. The Indian Bharatiya Janata Party followed the Western centre-right strategy in the 1980s and 1990s, appealing to the centre while maintaining a militarist, nationalist platform. New political parties were formed in Turkey after the 1980 coup d'état , and the Motherland Party , led by businessmen and tradesmen, implemented secular neoliberal policies. In European nations, women were most likely to support
14000-453: The full development of the individual citizen, though not through the dull and deadening process of socialism. The formation of the party was formally announced at Sydney Town Hall on 31 August 1945. It took the name Liberal in honour of the old Commonwealth Liberal Party. The new party was dominated by the remains of the old UAP; with few exceptions, the UAP party room became the Liberal Party room. The Australian Women's National League ,
14140-467: The government replaced the Immigration Act's arbitrarily applied European language dictation test with an entry permit system, that reflected economic and skills criteria. In 1962, Menzies' Commonwealth Electoral Act provided that all Indigenous Australians should have the right to enrol and vote at federal elections (prior to this, indigenous people in Queensland, Western Australia and some in
14280-550: The grounds of "disloyalty". Treasurer Billy Snedden replaced Gorton as deputy and Fraser was reinstated into the ministry, although Fraser remained unpopular within Liberal ranks for some time over the events of March 1971; Gorton never forgave Fraser and never spoke to him again. The economy was weakening as the post-war economic boom was drawing to a close. McMahon withdrew Australia's remaining combat troops from Vietnam, but criticised Opposition leader Gough Whitlam for visiting
14420-439: The introduction of a goods and services Tax (GST), various changes to Medicare including the abolition of bulk billing for non- concession holders , the introduction of a nine-month limit on unemployment benefits , various changes to industrial relations including the abolition of awards , a $ 13 billion personal income tax cut directed at middle and upper income earners, $ 10 billion in government spending cuts,
14560-428: The landslide was magnified by the large number of Labor MPs who followed Hughes into the Nationalist Party. At this election Hughes abandoned his working-class division of West Sydney , and was elected for Bendigo in Victoria. He had promised to resign if his Government did not win the power to conscript. A second plebiscite on conscription was held in December 1917, but the proposition was again defeated, this time by
14700-500: The latter formed by Prime Minister Billy Hughes and his supporters after the 1916 Labor Party split over World War I conscription . The Nationalist Party was established as a 'united' non-Labor opposition that had remained a political trend once the Labor party established itself in federal politics. The party was in government (from 1923 in coalition with the Country Party ) until electoral defeat in 1929. From that time it
14840-466: The leadership to Tony Abbott by 42 votes to 41 on the second ballot. Abbott led the party to the 2010 federal election , which saw an increase in the Liberal Party vote and resulted in the first hung parliament since the 1940 election . Through 2010, the party remained in opposition at the Tasmanian and South Australian state elections and achieved state government in Victoria . In March 2011,
14980-573: The major non-Labor parties were folded into the present-day Liberal Party of Australia . Around 1929, Robert Menzies , then a member of the Victorian Legislative Council , joined with Wilfrid Kent Hughes to form the Young Nationalists Organisation. Menzies was its first president. The organisation kept its name when its parent party became part of the UAP. Half of the UAP members elected in
15120-495: The middle and working classes. In most countries, centre-right ideologies such as conservatism and Christian democracy are perceived by the public as most capable of managing the economy. Economic downturn often leads to a short-term benefit for centre-right parties before a longer-term benefit for centre-left parties. The centre-right places emphasis on protecting public safety , preserving national security , and maintaining law and order . It supports democratisation around
15260-523: The more conservative elements of the Nationalist Party had only tolerated Hughes after the war, suspecting he was still a socialist at heart. Page's demand finally gave them an excuse to dump Hughes, who was forced to resign in January 1923. Former treasurer Stanley Bruce was chosen as leader, and quickly entered into a coalition with the Country Party. The price, however, was high: five seats for
15400-582: The more wealthy to the ideology. While left-wing politics involves class conflict , centre-right parties forgo this in favour of supporting overall economic growth across classes. Alongside its support for lowering spending, the centre-right supports lower taxes. In some cases, they may advocate private-public partnership or emphasise policies geared toward economic growth—these traits are common in Latin America where centre-right parties differentiate themselves from far-right parties by appealing to
15540-481: The multicultural broadcaster SBS , accepted Vietnamese refugees, opposed minority white rule in apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia and opposed Soviet expansionism, but Liberal minister Don Chipp split off from the party to form a new centrist - social liberal party, the Australian Democrats in 1977. The Liberals under Fraser won substantial majorities at the 1977 and 1980 elections, but
15680-530: The nation's poor (but not universal health care). Gorton's government kept Australia in the Vietnam War but stopped replacing troops at the end of 1970. Gorton maintained good relations with the United States and Britain, but pursued closer ties with Asia. The Gorton government experienced a decline in voter support at the 1969 election . State Liberal leaders saw his policies as too centralist, while other Liberals didn't like his personal behaviour. In 1971, Defence Minister Malcolm Fraser , resigned and said Gorton
15820-681: The primary centre-right ideologies in Scandinavia. In contemporary politics, these two ideologies often co-exist in the same party. Christian democracy has been the predominant centre-right ideology in continental Europe, particularly in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. It has performed most successfully in Catholic countries, while Christian democracy in other countries takes on more left-wing positions or fails to gain influence. Christian democratic parties are affiliated with
15960-411: The public from the centre-right to opposition parties across the political spectrum. The weakening of the centre-right corresponded with increased support for the far-right. To align more closely with conservative allies, Christian democratic parties had begun adopting more conservative economic policies by 2013. The American centre-right supported traditionalist conservatism and neoconservatism at
16100-539: The rise of identity politics . At this time, the centre-left came into power and centre-right parties drifted rightward or were supplanted by new far-right parties. Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party , also known as the National Party , was an Australian political party. It was formed in February 1917 from a merger between the Liberal Party and the National Labor Party ,
16240-407: The societal status quo , in both a cultural and socioeconomic context, and it is opposed to the radical politics espoused by the far-right. Instead, it displays loss-averse tendencies and leans toward gradualism . Constitutionalism and separation of powers are championed by the centre-right, combining protections for individual liberties with rule of law . The centre-right's handling of
16380-476: The state party was absorbed into the Queensland People's Party . From 1942 onward Menzies had maintained his public profile with his series of "The Forgotten People" radio talks—similar to Franklin D. Roosevelt 's fireside chats of the 1930s—in which he spoke of the middle class as the "backbone of Australia" but as nevertheless having been "taken for granted" by political parties. Menzies called
16520-484: The state should intervene in economic and social affairs. Conservatives generally have limited trust in human nature and believe society forms a natural hierarchical structure. Liberalism is individualist and maintains that people are best fit to make decisions for themselves. Christian democrats lean toward personalism , which places value on individuals but adopts collectivist and corporatist elements as well as hierarchy. The centre-right generally seeks to preserve
16660-559: The strongly anti-socialist church by advocating a more tempered approach. Christian democracy likewise presented itself as an alternative to liberalism and socialism. Centre-right figures were involved in early democratisation processes to ensure that their own advantages from the previous status quo were retained. Centre-right liberalism declined with the beginning of the 20th century, and many liberal parties merged with conservative parties. After World War I , several European nations formed weak centre-right parties, which grew through
16800-441: The time) expelled Hughes from the Labor Party. When the parliamentary Labor caucus met on 14 November 1916, lengthy discussions took place until Hughes walked out with 24 other Labor members. The remaining 43 members of the caucus then passed a motion of no confidence in the leadership, effectively expelling Hughes and his allies. Hughes and his followers rebranded themselves as the " National Labor Party ", and continued in office as
16940-471: The trade union movement, leading to the foundation of the breakaway Democratic Labor Party whose preferences supported the Liberal and Country parties. In 1951, during the early stages of the Cold War , Menzies spoke of the possibility of a looming third world war. The Menzies government entered Australia's first formal military alliance outside of the British Commonwealth with the signing of
17080-428: The traditional nuclear family . Such support has not been widely extended to transgender people. Centre-right parties support environmental preservation, though they are often seen as less interested in the subject than left-wing parties. The centre-right rejects concepts of climate grief or catastrophism, arguing that they can reduce interest in solving environmental issues. The concept of centre-right politics
17220-451: The upper class. Christian democracy developed as a new European ideology in the 1870s as a response to the anti-clericalism advocated by liberals. Closely aligned with Catholicism, its ideals were reflected in the Rerum novarum issued by Pope Leo XIII . The European centre-right was a force of moderation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Conservatism stood between socialism and
17360-654: The welfare state. It saw reduced support at this time as the centre-left usurped much of its leverage on economic issues. In Western Europe, this marked the beginning of a broader decline in moderate politics. The 2000s saw a shift back to the right in Europe, where centre-right parties formed coalition governments with far-right parties in countries such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands. The European and American centre-right adopted some nationalist far-right ideas at this time, including positions on immigration and crime. Centre-right parties in other countries shifted leftward with pro-labour policies to remain competitive with
17500-505: The world, and some centre-right groups consider regime change an appropriate means to spread and protect democracy. Taking a strong pro-peace stance can alienate members of a centre-right voting bloc. It is often more reluctant to support peace agreements because these often involve compromising on other centre-right positions such as maintaining a strong ethnic and religious identity. The centre-right leans toward paternalism over individualism and social harmony over societal conflict. It
17640-540: Was "not fit to hold the great office of Prime Minister". In a vote on the leadership the Liberal Party split 50/50, and although this was insufficient to remove him as the leader, Gorton decided this was also insufficient support for him, and he resigned. Foreign Affairs minister William McMahon replaced Gorton as prime minister. Gorton initially served as McMahon's deputy leader as well as Defence Minister, although Gorton would be forced to resign in August 1971 by McMahon on
17780-537: Was and wasn't to be exempt from the GST. Hewson's difficulty in explaining this to the electorate was exemplified in the infamous birthday cake interview , considered by some as a turning point in the election campaign. Keating won a record fifth consecutive Labor term at the 1993 election . A number of the proposals were later adopted into law in some form, to a small extent during the Keating Labor government, and to
17920-662: Was associated with communist rule. Anti-communism and anti-totalitarianism were paramount among all factions of the centre-right in these regions, and they condemned the West for treating mass killings under communist regimes differently than the Holocaust . More broadly, the European centre-right became increasingly secular by the 1990s, creating a division between centre-right parties that were more liberal on social issues and religious right parties that maintained conservative positions on social issues. Secularism especially became
18060-402: Was at the time the second-worst defeat of a sitting government since federation. Bruce even lost his own seat, and was succeeded as leader by former attorney-general John Latham . The Nationalists were never a real force in Australian politics again. The party had spent its entire 12-year existence in government, and was ill-prepared for a role in opposition. In 1931, following negotiations with
18200-476: Was defining its place in the world too narrowly. My Government has rebalanced Australia's foreign policy to better reflect the unique intersection of history, geography, culture and economic opportunity that our country represents. Time has only strengthened my conviction that we do not face a choice between our history and our geography. The 2007 federal election saw the defeat of the Howard federal government, and
18340-414: Was dominated by former Liberals, and as such was basically an upper- and middle-class party. However, the presence of many former Labor men—many of whom had been early leaders in that party—allowed the Nationalists to project an image of national unity. In May 1917, the Nationalists won a huge electoral victory , and formed what was at the time the biggest majority government since Federation . The size of
18480-510: Was heavily influenced by English philosopher John Locke , including his support for property rights and the right to overthrow tyrannical government. Early conservative and liberal parties clashed with one another: conservatives supported monarchy, land-owners, and the church, while liberals supported anti-clericalism, free markets, individualism, and scientific advancement. Due to limitations in suffrage , early centre-right parties were able to maintain sufficient support by appealing solely to
18620-671: Was heavily influenced by the constitutionalism and separation of powers of the United Kingdom and the United States. West Germany reformed its centre-right faction with the creation of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). Formed by a grassroots Christian movement, the CDU played a significant role in forming post-war Germany, combining social Christianity, market liberalism, and national conservatism . Its social market economy model proved to be influential across Europe. Alcide De Gasperi similarly brought about
18760-555: Was most recently in power from the 2013 federal election to the 2022 federal election , forming the Abbott (2013–2015), Turnbull (2015–2018) and Morrison (2018–2022) governments. The current party leader is Peter Dutton , who replaced former prime minister Scott Morrison as leader after the Coalition's defeat at the 2022 federal election. Two past leaders of the party, Sir Robert Menzies and John Howard , are Australia's two longest-serving Prime Ministers . The Liberal Party has
18900-651: Was opposed to this, especially given the British government's reprisals against the Irish Easter Rising of 1916. In October, Hughes held a plebiscite to try to gain approval for conscription, but the proposition was narrowly defeated. Daniel Mannix , the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne , was his main opponent on the conscription issue. The defeat did not deter Hughes, who continued to vigorously argue in favour of conscription. This produced
19040-595: Was premier of the state for most of the 1990s. In New South Wales, the Liberal Party has not been in office as much as its Labor rival, and just three leaders have led the party from opposition to government in that state: Sir Robert Askin , who was premier from 1965 to 1975, Nick Greiner , who came to office in 1988 and resigned in 1992, and Barry O'Farrell who led the party out of 16 years in opposition in 2011. The Liberal Party does not officially contest most local government elections, although many members do run for office in local government as independents. An exception
19180-492: Was signed in July 1957 and launched post-war trade with Japan, beginning a growth of Australian exports of coal , iron ore and mineral resources that would steadily climb until Japan became Australia's largest trading partner. Menzies retired in 1966 as Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister in history. Harold Holt replaced the retiring Robert Menzies in 1966 and the Holt government went on to win 82 seats to Labor's 41 at
19320-510: Was steadier in more established ones. To regain support, the European centre-right shifted toward the centre and moved away from neoliberalism, replacing it with a renewed focus on public safety, economic growth, and social issues. It saw further trouble later in the decade with the European debt crisis causing governments to enact controversial austerity policies, particularly through spending cuts and value-added taxes . These further pushed
19460-636: Was the United Australia Party (UAP). More broadly, the Liberal Party's ideological ancestry stretched back to the anti-Labor groupings in the first Commonwealth parliaments. The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a fusion of the Free Trade (Anti-socialist) Party and the Protectionist Party in 1909 by the second prime minister, Alfred Deakin , in response to Labor 's growing electoral prominence. The Commonwealth Liberal Party merged with several Labor dissidents (including Billy Hughes ) to form
19600-467: Was the main opposition to the Labor Party until it merged with pro- Joseph Lyons Labor defectors to form the United Australia Party (UAP) in 1931. The party is a direct ancestor of the Liberal Party of Australia , the main centre-right party in Australia . In October 1915, the Australian prime minister, Andrew Fisher of the Australian Labor Party , retired; Billy Hughes was chosen unanimously by
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