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Former PM Tony Abbott elected as new federal president of Australia's Liberal Party
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been elected as the new federal president of the Liberal Party after being the sole nominee. The government suggested his return signals the Liberals are moving further to the right, while Liberal Senator James Patterson defended the appointment as an organisational role.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been elected as the new federal president of the Liberal Party of Australia, returning to a formal role in national politics. Abbott was the only nominee for the position after former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer withdrew from the contest, making the election uncontested.
The government was quick to use Abbott's return to suggest the Liberal Party is moving closer to the political right and potentially helping One Nation's rise. However, Liberal Senator James Patterson defended the appointment, emphasising that the federal presidency is an organisational role, not a policy or parliamentary one.
Patterson explained that in the Liberal Party tradition, there is a clear separation between the organisational and parliamentary wings. The federal president is responsible for running campaigns and choosing candidates, while the parliamentary wing sets policy. This structure has been in place since Robert Menzies founded the party more than 80 years ago.
Abbott's appointment comes at a time when the Liberal Party is seeking to rebuild after a series of electoral setbacks. Patterson, who earlier this year said the party needed to change or die, acknowledged that winning back lost voters would be an ongoing process requiring consistent performance, unity and discipline over an extended period.
The Federal Council meeting also featured speeches from opposition figures including Angus Taylor and Jane Hume, with policy debates spanning taxation, foreign affairs, defence and social issues. Abbott's task will be to get the Liberal campaign machine firing ahead of the next federal election, as reported by ABC News Australia.