Shielding the Past: Liberals Bury Review of 2025 Election Defeat

In a move that has sparked concern among some members, the Liberal party executive has agreed to permanently bury a review into their catastrophic 2025 election defeat - the worst result in the party's more than 80-year history. The review, conducted by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin, was set to examine the factors behind the loss, including the potential roles of former leader Peter Dutton and his successor Angus Taylor.

The party has stated that "what's important now is that we strengthen our party for the future", but some members are worried that without an in-depth analysis, the Liberals will fail to learn the crucial lessons from their devastating defeat. The decision to permanently shelve the review has raised questions about transparency and the party's willingness to confront its past missteps.

The Liberal federal executive, which is responsible for the party's strategic direction, met on Friday and reached the agreement to bury the review. This move effectively shields the former and current party leadership from potentially damaging findings about their involvement in the failed 2025 campaign.

Some MPs have expressed concerns that this decision will prevent the party from truly understanding the reasons behind their loss and implementing the necessary changes to rebuild and regain the trust of Australian voters. "If we don't learn from our mistakes, we're doomed to repeat them," said one anonymous Liberal MP.

The Liberal party's catastrophic defeat in 2025 was a shocking result, with the party suffering significant losses across the country. The review was seen as a critical opportunity to analyze the campaign strategies, leadership, and policy decisions that contributed to this devastating outcome.

However, the party's decision to permanently shelve the review suggests a reluctance to confront the uncomfortable truths that may have emerged. This move has the potential to further erode public trust in the party and its ability to learn from its past failures.

As the Liberals work to rebuild and strengthen their party for the future, the decision to bury the 2025 election review has raised eyebrows and concerns among both party members and the wider Australian electorate. The long-term consequences of this decision remain to be seen, but it is clear that the party faces a significant challenge in regaining the confidence of the public.