SA Liberal factions divided on path forward after federal electionBy state political reporter Leah MacLennanTopic:Australian Federal Elections1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:46amAlexander Downer was critical of the Liberal Party's performance. (ABC News: Che Chorley)In short:Former foreign minister and opposition leader Alexander Downer has labelled factionalism as "fatal" for the South Austalian Liberal Party.Mr Downer said he thought the Liberal campaign was "an absolute shambles".What's next?Vote counting is continuing, with candidates like Senator Anne Ruston still awaiting a final outcome.abc.net.au/news/alexander-downer-criticises-sa-liberals-after-federal-election/105252826Link copiedShareShare articleFormer foreign minister and opposition leader Alexander Downer has labelled factionalism as "fatal" for the South Australian Liberal Party, as major players dissect the election loss.On ABC Radio Adelaide, Mr Downer slammed the Liberal campaign as having no framework.Election essentials:Federal election live updates: Follow the latest news in our blogLive results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continuesVoters explain what went wrong for the coalition"I thought the Liberal campaign was an absolute shambles," he said."I mean, just offering people a lot of handouts, trying to match Labor's handouts but differentiating the product, was not a convincing argument for changing the government."The working-from-home thing, I mean honestly. Reversing their position on that — I just watched that on television and thought, 'That's death for them.'"Alexander Downer in 2007 with former US first lady Nancy Reagan (centre) and then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. (Danny Moloshok: Reuters)Mr Downer, who was a senior minister during the era of John Howard's so-called "broad church", said the party needs to go back to basics, criticising feuds between factions."Of course it has to encompass a broad range of people, there's no doubt about that, but the thing about the Liberal Party is it must get back to explaining to people what its philosophical foundations are," he said."I think the factionalism as been hugely damaging to the Liberal Party, especially … it's been fatal in South Australia."Conservative take-over of the party in SAMr Downer's comments come a day after South Australian Senator Alex Antic was interviewed on Sky News, blaming a "rot" in the party for the loss."We've seen it in the United States, the Republican Party is stronger under a stronger conservative leader and I think the same is true here," he said."What we have to do is make sure we make the Liberal Party great again. "I said it, there we go, so we can make Australia great again."Alex Antic pointed to the US as an example for his party. (Facebook: Senator Alex Antic)Senator Antic's conservative faction has largely taken control of the South Australian Liberal branch, which was previously dominated by moderates.He was involved in a so-called Pentecostal recruitment drive where church-goers were encouraged to join the party en masse."What needs to happen is doing what we're doing here in South Australia which is having real people join up, attend AGMs, attend preselections and make sure you're getting proper true blue, big 'L' Liberals who are representing your party," he said."That is a long process, it is happening here. Almost everybody I would say that we are preselecting I would say are very true Liberals in South Australia and the machine has changed."Read more about the federal election:ANALYSIS: The message to the Coalition is clear: This is not John Howard's AustraliaHow the Liberals lost the cities and Labor found a new heartlandHave Your Say: What was the issue, policy or event that decided your vote?Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenAnne Ruston second on Senate ticketDespite being shadow health minister, Anne Ruston secured the second spot on the Liberal's SA Senate ticket, behind Alex Antic.She said while her return to Parliament has not been confirmed, on the current count she is almost there."You never pop the champagne corks until you've actually seen the final result," she said."But obviously we're very hopeful that we'll maintain two of our three Senators in South Australia with me being the second one."Anne Ruston has urged the Liberals to "embrace the views of people across the entire spectrum of the party". (ABC News: Matt Roberts)The moderate Senator was at odds with her conservative colleague on the direction forward for the party in the wake of Saturday's crushing loss."History always shows us we're at our strongest when we're united behind all of our Liberal values," she said."I think John Howard probably put it most succinctly of anyone, you know — we are a broad church in the Liberal Party and I think we have to embrace the views of people across the entire spectrum of the party."So I think that's the important work going forward, is making sure that anybody who holds Liberal values feels welcome in the party."Election analysis:First Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereWhy the Liberal Party's outer-suburban seat strategy failedVictorian premier no longer Labor's "problem child" as Liberal woes deepenPosted 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:46am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:51amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows A man in a shirt and hat.Albanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Albanese, at a press conference, raises his hands while speaking.Related storiesGoodbye Adelaide, we hardly knew ye: Liberals locked out of capital city seats in SALAnalysis by Leah MacLennanPhoto shows Labor's Claire Clutterham with Peter Malinauskas.Senior Liberal slams 'diabolical result' as Labor wins SA marginal seatsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Two women hold up signs that say 'I'm backing Claire' at Labor celebration after the federal electionLabor candidate who turned 21 on election night likely to win Senate seatTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Charlotte Walker and Mark Butler at a Labor campaign evRelated topicsAdelaideAustralian Federal ElectionsFederal - State IssuesLiberal Party of AustraliaSATop StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentAlbanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InWhat moving to a rural town for love is really likeTopic:Perspective13m ago13 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 6:00amTeal MP Zoe Daniel's high-profile seat is just one of 16 still in doubtTopic:Explainer14m ago14 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:59amForeign gold miner beefs up takeover offer for WA partner to $3.7bTopic:Gold20m ago20 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:53amPhilippine president's reported half-sister fined over conduct on Jetstar flightTopic:Courts31m ago31 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:42amMore Just InBack to top