Why we need a 'conservative spring'

As the home of the centre right tradition in this country, it is the Liberal Party who is most susceptible to the kind of disruption we are seeing overseas.While many in the Republican Party complain about Donald Trump – he is a product of their own creation.

They embraced an elite big business agenda, shut out their base and did not respond to the growing disillusionment around them.

Here, we are in real danger of forgetting the Forgotten People ourselves and we cannot make that mistake.There is and always will be a centre-right vote in this country. That doesn't mean the Liberal Party will always be its natural home.

To win elections, you have to appeal to the middle ground.But you always lock in your base first. Unless you have the base behind you, you can't even get through the gate to fight for the middle ground.

We should not be scared of our own base.They are crying out for thought leadership and alternative policies.

Conservative politicians are there to serve and represent, not control and exclude.

The world is changing around us and it is difficult to predict what may happen next.What is certain is that a new political force is rising in this landscape. We can either tap into the energy and the passion of those calling for change – or we can be overwhelmed by it.

We must disrupt – or we will be disrupted.This is not something I want to see happen to the Liberal Party. That's why we need A Conservative Spring…where the authentic voices of mainstream Australia are heard – especially within the Liberal Party.

To channel Menzies, we are at our best when we are striving for what we believe in and governing for the benefit of all.

If we do this, the times, once again, will suit us.