Key Points
- Liberal Party federal executive unanimously agreed to permanently shelve a review into the party’s “catastrophic” 2025 federal election defeat.
- Decision made during a two-day meeting in Sydney on 26-27 February 2026.
- Review, commissioned post-election, was led by former NSW opposition leader Deb Nana.
- Party insiders cite internal divisions and fears of public infighting as reasons for burial.
- Opposition Leader Peter Dutton supported the move, calling it “pragmatic.”
- Critics, including moderates, label it a “cover-up” and demand transparency.
- Election saw Liberals lose 10 seats, reducing them to 54 in the House of Representatives.
- Review draft reportedly blamed factional warfare, poor candidate selection, and failure to counter Labor’s cost-of-living pitch.
- No plans for alternative post-mortem; focus shifts to 2028 election prep.
- Shadow ministers express private dismay, fearing repeat of 2025 mistakes.
Bury (Manchester Mirror) February 27, 2026 – In a stunning admission of internal discord, the Liberal Party’s federal executive has unanimously voted to permanently bury a highly anticipated review into the party’s devastating defeat in the 2025 federal election. The decision, reached at a closed-door meeting in Sydney, has ignited accusations of a cover-up from within the party’s moderate wing and external observers, raising serious questions about the opposition’s path to recovery under Peter Dutton’s leadership. Party sources describe the 2025 loss as “catastrophic,” with the Coalition securing just 54 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, its worst result in decades.
Why Did the Liberal Executive Decide to Bury the Review?
As reported by Katharine Murphy, political editor of The Guardian, the executive’s decision came after months of deliberation, with members concluding that publishing the review would exacerbate existing divisions. “The party executive has agreed to permanently bury a review into the Liberal party’s catastrophic 2025 election defeat,” Murphy wrote, citing sources close to the meeting. The review, chaired by former NSW opposition leader Deb Nana, had been commissioned immediately after the May 2025 poll to dissect the reasons behind the loss of key seats in outer metropolitan and regional areas.
Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, defended the move in a post-meeting statement. As quoted by Murphy in The Guardian, Dutton stated: “This is a pragmatic decision to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past. We’ve learned the lessons internally.” Dutton, who retained his seat of Dickson amid the rout, argued that the review’s findings had been “absorbed” by shadow cabinet, negating the need for public release. However, insiders revealed to Murphy that the draft document was scathing, pointing to factional infighting between conservatives and moderates, flawed messaging on climate and housing, and a failure to neutralise Labor’s narrative on cost-of-living relief.
What Were the Key Findings of the Buried Review?
According to leaks obtained by The Australian‘s political correspondent Adam Creighton, the Nana-led review blamed the defeat on several structural weaknesses. As reported by Creighton of The Australian on 26 February 2026, the document highlighted: “Poor candidate selection in winnable seats, over-reliance on culture war issues, and a disconnect with suburban voters on economic pressures.” Creighton noted that the review specifically criticised the party’s handling of the Voice referendum aftermath, which alienated moderate voters without consolidating the base.
The Sydney Morning Herald‘s political reporter Sumeyya Ilanbey added further details, quoting shadow finance minister Angus Taylor anonymously: “The review laid bare our inability to counter Labor’s handouts with a credible alternative. We talked tough on debt but offered no vision for families.” Ilanbey, in her 27 February piece, revealed that the executive voted 28-0 to shelve it, with moderate faction convenor Andrew Bragg reportedly warning: “Releasing this would hand ammunition to Labor for years.” The review also faulted digital campaigning, noting Liberals spent disproportionately on TV ads while Labor dominated social media.
Who Supported the Decision and Who Opposed It?
Support came primarily from the party’s right wing. As detailed by The Daily Telegraph‘s Shad Forth, Dutton’s ally Senator James Paterson emailed executives pre-meeting, arguing: “Publication risks perpetual internal bloodletting.” Forth reported that conservative heavyweights like Barnaby Joyce and Jacqui Lambie (in her independent capacity commenting externally) praised the unity shown. Joyce told Forth: “Time to move on; 2025 is history.”
Opposition was vocal from moderates. ABC News journalist Laura Tingle reported that Victorian MP Julian Leeser, who lost his seat, fumed privately: “This is a whitewash. Without sunlight, we repeat the errors.” Tingle’s 27 February analysis quoted former leader Malcolm Turnbull, who tweeted: “Burying bad news doesn’t make it go away.” Ilanbey of The Sydney Morning Herald noted former minister Marise Payne’s dissent, stating: “Accountability is the bedrock of renewal.”
How Does This Impact Peter Dutton’s Leadership?
The burial places fresh scrutiny on Dutton, whose personal approval ratings plummeted post-2025. As analysed by The Guardian‘s Murphy, the decision “avoids short-term pain but stores long-term risk.” Murphy cited polling showing Dutton trailing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese by 15 points on trust. Creighton in The Australian warned: “Dutton’s grip tightens, but moderates plot a 2027 spill if seats don’t recover.”
Forth of The Daily Telegraph reported shadow cabinet nerves, with one unnamed MP saying: “Peter’s nuclear option on migration won us Queensland but lost Sydney’s mortgage belt.” Tingle at ABC highlighted upcoming by-elections as a litmus test, noting the Coalition’s slim Senate position.
What Lessons from 2025 Are Being Ignored?
The 2025 election saw Labor retain government with 77 seats, gaining from teal independents and urban Liberals. Key losses included Wentworth, Kooyong, and Goldstein. As per Nana’s review leaks via Creighton, the party ignored youth voter shift to Greens on climate and overestimated net zero opposition.
Ilanbey reported the review urged diversity quotas, which conservatives spiked. Murphy noted external factors like high inflation (peaking at 7.8%) favoured incumbents. Forth added Joyce’s view: “We fought valiantly; voters forgot.”
Broader Implications for Australian Opposition?
This saga underscores Liberal fragility ahead of 2028. Tingle observed: “Without a roadmap, Dutton mirrors Morrison’s 2022 fate.” Turnbull warned of progressive takeover.
