An autopsy of the federal Liberal Party’s disastrous 2025 election loss will not be made public, a highly unusual decision confirmed by the party’s federal executive. This move comes despite the review being completed months ago, following the Coalition’s worst electoral performance since World War II.
Party elders Pru Goward and Nic Minchin were commissioned to lead the formal review, which received hundreds of submissions. However, the federal executive has now revealed that the findings will remain confidential. In a statement, the executive acknowledged the decisive defeat in the May 2025 election and accepted the responsibility to change.
“The May 2025 election result was a decisive defeat. We accept that verdict. We also accept the responsibility to change,” the federal executive stated.
Background and Speculation
The decision not to publish the review marks a departure from past practices, as the Liberal Party had publicly released the review of its 2022 election loss, authored by former party director Brian Loughnane. Speculation about the fate of the 2025 review has been rife, with fears that its findings could be damaging to the current Liberal leadership team of Angus Taylor and Jane Hume, who played central roles in the campaign.
Earlier this year, the ABC reported that the review had been delayed after former opposition leader Peter Dutton claimed parts of it were defamatory to him and his staff. The federal executive’s statement made no reference to these claims, focusing instead on the need for the party to address where processes failed and connections with voters were lost.
Leadership Changes and Internal Dynamics
The review was one of two comprehensive analyses commissioned under Sussan Ley’s leadership shortly after she replaced Mr. Dutton last year. However, her ousting as leader and subsequent departure from parliament mean that neither review will be released. Ms. Ley officially resigned from federal parliament today, triggering a by-election in her New South Wales seat of Farrer.
In a lengthy statement, Ms. Ley, the first female leader of the Liberal Party, criticized her successor, Mr. Taylor, suggesting he had “re-adopted” many of her policies and positions recently. She highlighted her achievements, including establishing a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism and setting clear directions on key policy areas such as tax, industrial relations, energy, national security, and families.
“I am proud that we were instrumental in establishing a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism and that we set clear directions on several key policy areas,” Ms. Ley stated.
Implications for the Farrer By-Election
Ms. Ley also emphasized the importance of the upcoming Farrer by-election, noting that the seat has been held “without exception” by the Liberals and Nationals since its creation in 1949. She expressed confidence in Mr. Taylor’s ability to maintain the party’s support in the region.
“The election of a Liberal member in the Farrer by-election is vital for the betterment and ongoing strength of our region,” Ms. Ley said.
Mr. Taylor is managing expectations, warning that the by-election, which is shaping up to be a four-cornered contest, “would be tough.” With support for One Nation surging at the expense of the Coalition, the by-election represents the first real test of the minor party’s electoral appeal at a federal level.
Looking Ahead
The decision to withhold the 2025 election review raises questions about transparency within the Liberal Party and its strategy for rebuilding after a significant electoral setback. As the party navigates internal dynamics and prepares for the Farrer by-election, the outcomes of these events will likely shape its future direction and leadership.
Observers will be watching closely to see how the party addresses the challenges highlighted in the confidential review and whether it can regain voter trust and confidence in the coming months.
