Conservatism in Australia - Political Parties

Political Parties

Political conservatism is primarily represented by the Liberal Party of Australia, and its coalition partner, the National Party which historically was the party of the small farmers and espoused agrarianism. Moser and Catley explain, "In America, 'liberal' means left-of-center, and it is a pejorative term when used by conservatives in adversarial political debate. In Australia, of course, the conservatives are in the Liberal Party." Jupp points out that, " decline in English influences on Australian reformism and radicalism, and appropriation of the symbols of Empire by conservatives continued under the Liberal Party leadership of Sir Robert Menzies, which lasted until 1966." Beecher comments that, "across the economic and cultural landscape, Howard proved that the centre of politics in Australia is inherently conservative."

There have been other minor parties which may be perceived to be conservative or right wing in orientation on account of some of their policies, including the One Nation Party, Shooters Party and Pauline's United Australia Party, although many would not champion classical liberal approach to economics adopted by the Liberal Party.

Conservative think tanks in Australia include Centre for Independent Studies, the H. R. Nicholls Society and the Menzies Research Centre.

In Australia however there are some differences in the political landscape in which conservatism exists, compared to what is found in other countries. Australia undertook significant economic reform under Prime Minister Paul Keating of the centre-left Australian Labor Party in the mid-1980s. Kelly concludes that, In the 1980s both Labor and non-Labor underwent internal philosophical revolutions to support a new set of ideas – faith in markets, deregulation, a reduced role for government, low protection and the creation of a new cooperative enterprise culture." Consequently issues like protectionism, welfare reform, privatisation and deregulation are no longer debated as intensely as they are in Europe or North America.