State Liberals need a new agenda

Policy should deliberately foster the growth of what Edmund Burke called "the little platoons" of civil society: families, neighbourhood associations, private enterprises, charities and churches. This is because these institutions are perceived to be the real source of economic growth and social vitality.

Testing government policy against its effect on the "little platoons" can give state-based Liberals something to say during the term of a parliament, and can form the basis of a platform from which a coherent suite of policies can be developed.

Should this happen, suitable community-based candidates may feel able to offer themselves as candidates. In that way, the weaknesses identified by Costello will be eliminated.

That said, if an appeal to the little platoons is seen as undesirable, some alternative narrative must be developed quickly. Otherwise at provincial level Australia will become a one-party state, with all the disadvantages that suggests.