Liberal Party Hides Election Review Before By-Election Due to Damaging Claims

The Liberal Party will not release its 2025 election review, with claims it contains damaging information and could be defamatory, unlike previous reviews that were made public.
By Newsroom | Politics, Australia |

A formal review of the Liberal Party's significant election loss is being kept from public view. This decision follows concerns that the document contains potentially damaging information. Party leaders have met to discuss the review's contents, leading to the agreement to not release it. This move comes ahead of a critical by-election, raising questions about transparency and the party's strategy for future success.

Context of the Review

A review of the Liberal Party's performance in the 2025 election was commissioned after the party's substantial defeat. Nick Minchin and Pru Goward spent months compiling the report, which was completed last year.

  • The review was initiated under former leader Sussan Ley.

  • It reportedly offers sharp criticism of the party's campaign and policies.

  • Concerns about the report's contents emerged when former opposition leader Peter Dutton claimed parts of it were defamatory towards him and his staff.

  • This claim led to delays in the review's release, initially planned before Christmas.

Key Actors and Decisions

The decision to suppress the election review involves several key figures within the Liberal Party.

  • Angus Taylor, the current Opposition Leader, has been central to the recent discussions regarding the review's fate. He met with top party figures, resulting in the agreement to shelve the document.

  • Nick Minchin and Pru Goward, the review's co-authors, were reportedly assured by former leader Sussan Ley and party president John Olsen that the report would be published in full.

  • Peter Dutton, the former opposition leader, has stated that elements of the review could be defamatory.

  • The party's federal executive ultimately revealed that the review would not be made public.

Evidence of Suppression

Multiple reports indicate that the Liberal Party has decided not to publish its election review.

  • Article 1 states the review "will be suppressed after Opposition Leader Angus Taylor met with top party figures and agreed to shelve the document."

  • Article 4 confirms, "The Liberal Party's new leader Angus Taylor faces his first test with the upcoming Farrer by-election. … But today, the party's federal executive revealed it would never be made public."

  • Article 5 quotes co-author Nick Minchin stating he "has lashed out at the party’s Friday decision to suppress its publication."

  • Article 6 suggests the review "may not be made public amid concerns from some party executives it could further damage the Liberals’ standing with voters."

Contentious Elements of the Review

While the full review remains unpublished, reports suggest it contains critical assessments of the party's past campaign and leadership.

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  • Campaign Strategy and Polling: The review has been reported to recommend against relying on a single polling firm, citing the "errant research" from Freshwater Strategy that allegedly led the Opposition to "waste valuable time and money on seats it was never going to win" (Article 9).

  • Leadership Conduct: There are indications that the review warns "a leader must never again be allowed to run their own campaign as Peter Dutton did" (Article 6).

  • Candidate Selection and Diversity: An earlier aspect of the review, from December 2022, highlighted the need to boost female representation, finding that "50% of candidates and new MPs should be women," though it did not recommend a binding quota (Article 11). Concerns were also raised about candidate vetting and the impact of factionalism (Article 11).

Reasons for Suppression

The decision to withhold the review appears to stem from a combination of factors, including legal concerns and a desire to avoid further public scrutiny.

  • Defamation Claims: Peter Dutton's assertion that parts of the report are defamatory is a significant reason for its suppression. This concern was reportedly a factor in the review being delayed before Christmas (Article 5, Article 10).

  • Avoiding Humiliation: The party aims to spare itself "further humiliation" before an upcoming by-election (Article 1, Article 6).

  • Party Unity: The suppression may be seen as an attempt to maintain party unity, particularly in the lead-up to the Farrer by-election (Article 1).

Expert and Insider Perspectives

Comments from individuals involved in or knowledgeable about the review offer insight into the situation.

"We also accept the responsibility to change." - A statement from the Liberal Party, in response to questions about the review's suppression.

Nick Minchin, a co-author of the review, has publicly criticized the decision. He stated that he and Goward were initially told the review would be published in full (Article 5). He also suggested that party members would be "horrified" by the decision to suppress it (Article 5).

An editorial perspective suggests that "Releasing election review is Liberals’ first step to recovery" (Article 3). This view implies that transparency about past failures is necessary for the party to move forward and regain public trust.

Conclusion and Implications

The Liberal Party's decision to suppress its election review marks a significant moment, highlighting internal divisions and a strategic choice to control public messaging. The review, intended to analyze a "disastrous election," now faces a future of obscurity rather than open discussion.

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  • Transparency Concerns: The move raises questions about the party's commitment to accountability and learning from its mistakes.

  • Strategic Considerations: The decision appears to be driven by a desire to protect key figures and manage the party's image during a sensitive period, especially with the Farrer by-election approaching.

  • Internal Divisions: The differing viewpoints, particularly from a co-author like Nick Minchin, suggest ongoing tensions within the party regarding its direction and past performance.

  • Future of Reforms: The suppressed findings may contain crucial recommendations for policy and strategy. Their non-disclosure leaves open the question of whether these identified issues will be addressed.

The ongoing debate surrounding the review's contents and its suppression underscores the challenges the Liberal Party faces in addressing the factors that contributed to its election loss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the Liberal Party not releasing its 2025 election review?
The Liberal Party decided not to make its 2025 election review public because it reportedly contains damaging information. Former leader Peter Dutton also claimed parts of the report were defamatory towards him and his staff.
Q: Who decided to suppress the Liberal Party's election review?
The decision to suppress the review was made by the Liberal Party's federal executive. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor met with top party figures, and they agreed to shelve the document.
Q: What kind of information is in the Liberal Party's election review?
Reports suggest the review criticizes the party's campaign strategy, including advice against relying on a single polling firm. It also reportedly warns against a leader running their own campaign and highlights the need for more female candidates.
Q: What are the main reasons the Liberal Party is hiding the election review?
The main reasons are Peter Dutton's claims that parts of the report are defamatory, the party's desire to avoid further humiliation before an upcoming by-election, and an effort to maintain party unity.
Q: What do people involved in the review say about it being suppressed?
Nick Minchin, a co-author of the review, has criticized the decision, stating that he and Pru Goward were told the report would be published in full. He believes party members will be horrified by the suppression.