Labor past can guide Libs’ future

When Gough Whitlam led the Labor Party to its second successive landslide loss in the 1977 federal election, it was the end of an era.

The former prime minister immediately announced his intention to step down, and he quit politics a short time later.

Mr Whitlam had led Labor out of the political wilderness – 23 years in opposition – to win the ‘It’s Time’ election in December 1972. But after less than three years in power – including being re-elected in 1974 – he was sacked by Sir John Kerr, the man he had appointed governor-general.

Labor’s stocks were at rock bottom, and former Queensland policeman Bill Hayden – the standout minister in the Whitlam government – was given the job of leading a shattered party.

Mr Hayden set about consulting party members across the country and insisting on adopting moderate policies. The big-spending days of the Whitlam era were over.

For instance, Mr Hayden served notice when NSW left wing MP Tom Uren, moved at the party’s national conference in Perth in 1977 for the restoration of the super department – urban and regional development – in the platform.

The department had virtually a blank cheque in government and, under Mr Uren, spent massive amounts. But Mr Hayden took a punt on the mood of the conference and said bluntly that the profligate days of Labor in government were finished. And the conference backed him.

Labor made significant gains at the 1980 election under his leadership, and he was well placed to become prime minister in 1983 before he was run down by the irresistible force, Bob Hawke, on the day Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser called the election.

It was the “drover’s dog” election. A shattered Mr Hayden said anyone could have led Labor to victory that year, even the drover’s dog.

Why mention that now? Well, the Liberal Party WA is in much the same position as federal Labor in 1977: two successive devastating election defeats and the likelihood of being banished to the opposition benches for extended terms while they lick their wounds and attempt to regroup.

The Liberals must take a leaf out of Labor’s book: get serious about rebuilding, put petty factional differences to one side, and set about attracting quality candidates and developing policies to appeal to voters.

They don’t have to reinvent the wheel. When Bert Hawke’s WA Labor government was in power in the 1950s, a broadly based committee, which included the then deputy Liberal leader Charles Court and pastoralist-prospector Lang Hancock, developed a comprehensive opposition policy for the north-west, as the Pilbara was known at the time.

When the coalition won the 1959 state election, the Liberals had a well-structured plan. First on the agenda was to badger the federal government to lift the iron ore export embargo. It didn’t happen overnight, but they eventually succeeded, and the rest is history.

The 2021 election review by Liberal elders Danielle Blain and Mark Trowell is a good starting point. It is admirably direct: many MPs conducted half-hearted campaigns (and paid the penalty); policy development was lacking; fundraising was minimal; candidate selection was wanting; and the attitude to female members was sexist. The election campaign under tyro leader Zak Kirkup was botched.

The review identified the “time of death” of the campaign as occurring when “the leader” (Mr Kirkup) announced he would retire from politics if he was unsuccessful and noted: “[A] true underdog does not throw in the towel”. Mr Kirkup lost his marginal seat of Dawesville.

The challenge for the Liberals is to close ranks, make the tough decisions and rebuild their shattered party, which is facing at least a further two terms (eight years) in opposition.

However, the much-needed reforms will likely play second fiddle to preparations for the federal poll in the first half of next year. But the party can’t duck the importance of change.

Just as Mr Hayden led the charge in the rebuilding of a shattered Labor Party in the late 1970s, the Liberals must do the same. It’s a massive challenge for the current leadership team of David Honey and Libby Mettam.

Are they up to the job?