Moderates (Liberal Party of Australia)

Last updated

Moderate Faction
Modern Liberals
Ideology
Political position Centre to centre-right
House of Representatives
7 / 28
(2025 seats)
Senate
9 / 24
(2025 seats)

The Moderates, [1] [2] [3] also known as Modern Liberals, [4] [5] Small-L Liberals [6] Liberal Left, [7] or The Mods, [8] are a faction comprising the members, supporters and voters of the Liberal Party of Australia who are typically economically, socially and environmentally liberal. [9] [10] [11] Described as centrist, [7] [12] [13] The faction has supported ideologies such as economic liberalism, centrism and cultural liberalism, having a combination of economically liberal and socially progressive views. Since May 2025, the offices of Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition have been occupied by Sussan Ley, who is the first woman to hold either position. She is a member of the Moderates and identifies as a republican, as do many other members of the Liberal Party. [14] [15]

Contents

They compete with the Liberal Party's largest and major faction, the National Right. The Moderates receive support from the Centre Right faction under current Leadership. [14]

Geographical base

Moderate Liberals traditionally represent inner-city and wealthy House of Representatives seats or are in the Senate. [16] The Moderates currently have federal representation in four out of five states which they hold seats [17] [ circular reference ] [18] [ circular reference ] [19] [ circular reference ] [20] .[ circular reference ] Traditionally, the Moderates are strongest in New South Wales and Victoria where they hold most of their representation. However in Victoria, the nominal Moderate faction is not affiliated with those of the other states. The Moderates are the dominant faction in New South Wales and have provided all of the past three Liberal leaders in Tasmania (all of whom served as Premier). [21] [ circular reference ]

Membership

Prominent moderates include former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, [22] former Foreign Affairs Minister and former Deputy Leader Julie Bishop, [23] former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne, [24] former Attorney-General George Brandis, [25] and former Liberal-turned-independent MP Julia Banks. [26]

Prominent moderates in the Morrison government included Senate leader Simon Birmingham, [27] Marise Payne, Paul Fletcher and Linda Reynolds. [28] [ non-primary source needed ]

At the state level, four Liberal leaders are from this faction: Mark Speakman (the New South Wales Opposition Leader), [29] Jeremy Rockliff (the current Tasmanian Premier), [30] Jess Wilson (the Victorian Opposition Leader), [31] and Vincent Tarzia (the South Australia Opposition Leader). Prominent Moderates in New South Wales include Gladys Berejiklian (the 45th Premier of New South Wales), [32] Matt Kean (the faction's leader in New South Wales and former deputy leader of the party), [33] Rob Stokes (a former Cabinet minister) [34] and Natalie Ward (the party's deputy leader in New South Wales). [35] Prominent Moderates in other states include Georgie Crozier and David Southwick in Victoria; [36] John Gardner, Josh Teague (current South Australian Liberal deputy leader) and Tim Whetstone in South Australia; [37] [38] and Peter Gutwein and Will Hodgman in Tasmania (who both served as Premier). [39] [40]

Current Federal Members

As of 10 October 2025. [3]

NameConstituencyCurrent Shadow/Former Government PositionsState/Territory
Sussan Ley Member for Farrer Leader of the Opposition

Former Minister for Sport, Health, Aged Care and Environment portfolios. [41] [ circular reference ] [42] [ circular reference ] [43]

NSW
Ted O'Brien Member for Fairfax Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer. [44] QLD
Maria Kovacic Senator for NSW Shadow Assistant MinisterNSW
Anne Ruston Senator for SA Deputy Leader of Opposition in Senate, Manager of Opposition Business in Senate, Shadow Minister for Health, NDIS and Sport [44]

Former Minister for Families and Social Services. [43]

SA
Jane Hume Senator for VIC Former Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy, and Women's Economic Security portfolios. [43] VIC
Angie Bell Member for Moncrief Shadow Minister for Environment and Youth [44] QLD
Richard Colbeck Senator for TAS TAS
Andrew Bragg Senator for NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and Productivity and Deregulation [44] NSW
Tim Wilson Member for Goldstein Shadow Minister for Small Business, and Industrial Relations and Employment [44] VIC
Paul Scarr Senator for QLD Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [44] QLD
Mary Aldred Member for Monash VIC
James McGrath Senator for QLD Shadow Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, Brisbane 2032 Olympics, and Shadow Special Minister of State [44]

Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate

QLD
Dave Sharma Senator for NSW Shadow Assistant MinisterNSW
Melissa Price Member for DurackShadow Minister for Defence Industry and Defence Personnel [44]

Former Minister for Environment [45] [ circular reference ]

WA
Julian Leeser Member for Berowra Shadow Minister for Arts and Attorney General [44] NSW
Kerrynne Liddle Senator for SA Shadow Minister for Social Services and Indigenous Australians [44] SA

Former Federal Members

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Julia Banks left the Liberal Party in 2018 while sitting as a federal MP.

References

  1. ↑ Turnbull, Malcolm (2020). A Bigger Picture. Australia: Hardie Grant Books. p. 110. ISBN   978-1-74379-563-7.
  2. ↑ Matthewson, Paula. "Comment: Rise of the Liberal moderates". SBS News. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 Massola, James (10 October 2025). "Liberal Party factions: The split in the Right that is reshaping the political landscape". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  4. ↑ The New Social Contract. Queensland, Australia: Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd. 2020. ISBN   978-1-922449-03-0.
  5. ↑ Davies, Anne (10 April 2019). "'Modern Liberals': Dave Sharma and Tim Wilson rebrand over climate change". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Steketee, Mike (12 March 2021). "The revolt of the Liberal moderates" . The Canberra Times . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. 1 2 Warhurst, John (20 March 2014). "Centrist Liberals need stronger voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "How a crushing defeat shifted factional power in the Liberal Party". Australian Financial Review. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Massola, James (9 April 2023). "How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power". The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Tillett, Andrew (21 October 2018). "Liberal moderates on guard as up to 10 seats vulnerable to progressive backlash" . Australian Financial Review . Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Carol (12 July 2017). "Turnbull is right to link the Liberals with the centre – but is the centre where it used to be?". The Conversation . Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  13. ↑ Cannane, Steve (11 July 2017). "Malcolm Turnbull hits back at right-wing Liberals, says party was never intended to be conservative". ABC News. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  14. 1 2 Truu, Maani (13 May 2025). "Sussan Ley becomes first woman to lead Liberal Party". ABC News. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  15. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter (12 June 2022). "'People were fed up': Sussan Ley on her punk past, feminism and why the Liberals lost". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  16. ↑ Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "New South Wales", Wikipedia, 11 October 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  18. ↑ "Victoria (state)", Wikipedia, 9 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  19. ↑ "Queensland", Wikipedia, 25 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  20. ↑ "Western Australia", Wikipedia, 4 October 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  21. ↑ "Premier of Tasmania", Wikipedia, 28 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  22. ↑ "Malcolm Turnbull: The man who couldn't be king". SBS News. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  23. ↑ "Behind the Curtin, an epic power struggle is taking place within the WA Liberals". www.abc.net.au. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  24. ↑ "'We are in the winner's circle': Pyne crows about influence of Liberal party's left faction". SBS News. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. ↑ Grattan, Michelle (7 February 2018). "George Brandis warns Liberals against rise of populist right". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  26. ↑ Banks, Julia (2 July 2021). "'Shut up and take your HRT': ex-MP Julia Banks on Canberra's boys' club". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "The rise of the next generation of factional leaders". 23 August 2019.
  28. ↑ "Your Government | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "Mark Speakman elected leader of the NSW Liberals, promising renewal". Australian Financial Review. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Right shift not the fix: Tas Lib premier". The Canberra Times. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  31. ↑ Smethurst, Annika (18 November 2025). "As history beckons, Wilson's moderate appeal will force Labor to sharpen its attack". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Gladys Berejiklian Elected NSW Premier". Triple M. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  33. ↑ Smith, Alexandra (15 September 2022). "Senior Libs push rising star Natalie Ward for lower house seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  34. ↑ Davies, Anne (22 January 2022). "The Right stuff: why shellshocked NSW Liberal moderates are fearing factional fights". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  35. ↑ "New Liberal leader speaks out on NSW party's future". Australian Associated Press. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  36. ↑ "Victorian Liberal leadership contest hangs in the balance". The Age. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  37. ↑ Richardson, Tom (8 April 2022). "Teague bids for Lib leadership as federal heavyweight tapped for major review". InDaily. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  38. ↑ Richardson, Tom (19 April 2022). "Great Scot: Speirs takes leadership as Libs seek renewal". InDaily. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  39. ↑ "New Liberal premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein says we must 'do more' on climate change". The Guardian. 20 January 2020. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  40. ↑ "Few have achieved as much as Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman". The Australian. 14 January 2020.
  41. ↑ "Abbott ministry", Wikipedia, 15 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  42. ↑ "First Turnbull ministry", Wikipedia, 15 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
  43. 1 2 3 "Second Morrison ministry", Wikipedia, 23 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025[ circular reference ]
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ley shadow ministry", Wikipedia, 3 October 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025[ circular reference ]
  45. ↑ "First Morrison ministry", Wikipedia, 15 September 2025, retrieved 12 October 2025
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