Things can get a little heated in politics. Come on, Nick… You were at CPAC – a political action conference. We all love and appreciate you, but as conservatives, we are still allowed to disagree with you.

I was there in the crowd last Sunday. No one was attacking you personally, but what you said hit a strong nerve.

I have voted Liberal all my life, but common sense will not allow me to vote Liberal again until I see – not just hear – that the party has gone back to its conservative roots.

Instead, while you had the microphone, you upset good conservatives in the room by accusing them of acting like lefties! The crowd’s disagreement was audible because many disagreed with your assessment and responded accordingly. This is to be expected within a political movement.

We are all on the same side, and I don’t respect and admire you any less because you said something foolish, with no explanation or build-up.

The crowd had trouble keeping quiet because they had spent two years under Covid regulations being offended by the Liberal Party while not having a voice. I have been shocked at the attack on those of us who spoke out, with lots of good reasons.

I am impressed with the number and calibre of your supporters that took umbrage on your behalf and came to your rescue (but not defence). They were concerned about the apparent ‘rudeness’ of your hecklers. Even Paul Murray was at a loss as to how anyone could be so abhorrent as to heckle the great Nick Minchin. I love Paul Murray as well, but he missed completely that it was the words, not the person, that offended the audience.

None of those who spoke out at CPAC were extremists on the right or left. If the party elite believe that the Liberal Party cannot be criticised, and if those in charge take the criticism personally to the point they heckle back with voters, it’s going to be a long time in the political wilderness.

CPAC gave us two days of fabulous speakers espousing conservative values. The strength of their words revealed that the Liberal Party had lost its conservative values and, in doing so, lost the federal election.

Scott Morrison did that.

He embraced Net Zero emissions, and he did nothing about opening borders within Australia (even though babies were dying), and remained silent while human rights were being abused. If Liberals had stood with Pauline Hanson and other independent conservative figures in Victoria – and not assisted the Victorian state government in producing vaccine passports – that atrocity would have been cut off early.

The conservative audience at CPAC is not going to idly jump back on the Liberal train.

As a fully paid member of the Liberal Party, I got onto zoom calls that were promising to change the platform before the election, but my lonely voice was not heard. I know some members of the Victorian Liberals personally and could not get them or Matthew Guy to listen. They were too busy campaigning to listen to the people they were supposed to be campaigning to. I replied to various emails I received with suggestions about getting back on track.

The Liberal Party did not listen when it mattered and I’m not convinced anyone is listening now. I do know that Pauline Hanson has been consistent in saying and doing the things that I, as a conservative, believe and want a leader to say and do.

So, Nick, you have not diminished on my likeability scale. Just like I wish Labor supports all the best in their beliefs, I really do wish you the best in yours. I am cheering you on and do hope you can turn the Liberal Party back to where it once was, and with no disrespect, I disagree with your plea that I need to join the Liberals.

I hope you acknowledge my right to disagree with you and let you know. You were on a stage, you held a microphone, but it was the audience’s prerogative to reply.

CPAC was a fabulous conference and I am glad you were there, but please adopt that great Aussie ‘water off a duck’s back’ attitude. No biggie, I’m sure I’ll love what you say next week. I do admire that you are so strongly sticking to your belief in the Liberal Party, but don’t let it get in the way of your common sense.

Lily Steiner is an active member of the community, radio host on www.J-Air.com.au and lifelong advocate for Israel. She is an entrepreneur and Founder of American Business Gateway. LilyHighOnLife Podcasts – Change Your Attitude Change Your Life.

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