Theyre not so closet, and are rusted on true believers. I've been in social situations with the younger elements of the LNP, out for drinks with Joe Hockey's advisers once. It was an illuminating experience having a bunch of snotty 20 somethings espousing how great Reagan and Thatcher were and how hopeless and wet lefty labour was. And how Obama was only ever in it for the publicity...
I didnt last very long being invited to those drinks obviously, but my short time in that world tells me the LNP is not going to change anytime soon - dont rely on the old guys dying off, the young ones are even nuttier.
The current federal Coalition is largely run by the merged LNP out of QLD. The Liberal base in NSW, Vic, WA and SA has largely abandoned the positions put forward by the QLD LNP. The Coalition can't possibly hope to win like this.
The Liberals will probably go through a generational change as they wander through the wilderness for the next decade or so. There's already a push within the NSW, Vic and WA state branches and executives to get the QLD LNP to demerge or withdraw the license for the LNP to use the Liberal brand.
This should only be a start, the Liberal party needs to jettison the National party as dead weight and move back towards the centre.
Given the dominance of the Liberal and Labor it's important that the Liberal party get their act together and act as a credible opposition to keep Labor honest.
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