The NSW Liberal Party is at a crossroads.
After the weekend's byelections in Pittwater, Hornsby, and Epping, the party must heed voters' message: the people expect more from the Liberals. As the Minns government stumbles through crisis after crisis, the Opposition, led by Mark Speakman, has yet to really cut through. There is a vast chasm between what the current government is offering and what NSW desperately needs, but the Liberals have not yet bridged that gap.
The Liberal Party should be leading the charge on key issues facing the state: crime, infrastructure, cost of living, housing, and education. Instead, there's a hesitancy to define a clear, conservative vision that contrasts with the muddled and out-of-touch policies of Labor, the Greens, and the teals.
This needs to change.
The Liberals must not be a pale imitation of Labor or the teals, but instead put forward bold policies that reflect the values of mainstream Australia while addressing the pressing challenges of today.
Crime, particularly youth crime, is out of control. The balance between the rights of criminals and the rights of victims is utterly skewed. In cases of violent crime in particular, victims deserve justice. The Liberal Party must champion bail reform that puts community safety first, ensuring that those who commit violent offences face meaningful consequences. This is not about being "tough for tough's sake" but about restoring a sense of justice and order that many in the community feel has been lost.
The previous Liberal government left a legacy of successful infrastructure projects, but that vision has faded.
A future Liberal government must go further, bridging the gaps between Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, and Canberra.
This means investing in faster rail and road connections and expanding regional access to air travel with more destinations available from regional airports. We need to address the tyranny of distance, not just for the sake of convenience but for economic growth, regional development, and long-term prosperity.
It's time to build infrastructure that benefits all communities, not just metropolitan Sydney.
Housing and planning are other critical areas where the Liberal Party must step up. The housing crisis is pushing families to the brink, with many young people priced out of the market. CoreLogic data shows that Sydney's median house price has surged to more than $1.2 million. The Liberals' focus must be on increasing supply and ensuring that new homes are being built in the right places: affordable, liveable, and scalable. We must not allow the housing debate to be hijacked by NIMBYs who oppose necessary development.
In this housing debate, Newcastle must become a truly modern city, one that isn't afraid of activity, events, development, and growth. This means fostering an environment where businesses can thrive, cultural and sporting events are welcomed, and urban development is encouraged to keep pace with the needs of a growing population.
Then, there's education.
The curriculum has become a battleground for political ideologues, with recent pushes to include divisive content such as identity politics and ideological historical interpretations, and, as a result, our children are falling behind the rest of the world. It's time to return to the basics. Literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking must be prioritised over political grandstanding.
The Liberal Party should be the champion of a depoliticised education system, one that equips children for the future, not indoctrinates them with the latest fads.
The NSW Liberals must seize the moment and offer a compelling alternative vision for the state. One that is grounded in common sense, conservative values, and a genuine commitment to NSW's future growth. The Greens, teals, and Labor are offering little more than platitudes and policy dead ends, consistently failing to present any tangible solutions to the challenges facing the people of NSW. Their policies are often overly simplistic, ideologically driven, and lack the practicality needed to deliver actual, measurable outcomes.
If the Liberal Party can rise to the occasion, it won't just win elections; it will offer the state leadership it desperately needs.
Now is the time to step up.
