Can Angus Taylor rekindle the romance?

There are some members of the Coalition who have trouble saying what a woman is. There are others who will happily tell you that current immigration levels are just fine.

The Coalition used to be the party of good economic management but during Covid it couldn't stop spending and borrowing. It said it was against mandates and lockdowns, but then did nothing when the states imposed them.

How do you cure this trust deficit? Even the most heartfelt apology won't be enough. You need to demonstrate real change, and that can only mean removing the cause of offence – those members who undermine the mainstream centre and right position.

There's talk of making Liberal Party preselections more open. That would be significant, but not sufficient. Unless there is large turnover of representatives it will be the much same old cast, just season next.

Which explains the position of many One Nation supporters. They're not voting for a One Nation government so much as they're voting for a complete demolition and rebuild of the conservative side of government.

If the Liberals and Nationals can't select good candidates, then they will do the job for them through One Nation. And if replacement is their aim, then some Liberals will survive, but only by having a strong personal brand.

Do One Nation voters care if Labor wins another term in government because of the chaos on the right? Probably not. For many of them, another Labor term may be a price worth paying if it burns away the old centre-right and makes room for an alternative whose word can be trusted.