It’s time for a Reform Australia Party

While Reform UK has shown the way, the Liberal Party has gone astray.

Populism has been defined as an approach to politics that pits a champion of the commonfolk against elites. Right-wing populism has often been regarded as anti-expert, anti-intellectual, and anti-globalisation. A major challenge for populist leaders has been a lack of vision. In the short term, populist leaders can be against things, but this it makes it harder to be for something in the long run.

While Reform UK has shown the way, the Liberal Party has gone astray. It’s time for a Reform Australia Party.

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

Michael de Percy asks when and if Australia can muster the forces of conservative politics and create its own ‘Reform’ movement. Elon Musk spent the day demanding a ‘third party’ for American politics after renewing his scuffle with US President Donald Trump. Musk isn’t happy about the savage cuts to renewable energy and EVs, but Michael makes a larger point about the need for a genuine opposition party – not for rich businessmen or politicians – but for the people.

In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes wrote:

Michael de Percy makes the case for a Nigel Farage spin-off party in Australia. In terms of Reform UK and its agenda, that is a consummation devoutly to be wished, whether in a – pardon the pun – reformed Liberal party or not. But Farage, for all his media stunting and blokey braggadocio, has the brains and political nous to be a prime minister: there is nobody on the Australian centre-right, whether in the Liberals or populist minor parties, who has the intelligence, common touch, charisma, appealing beliefs and hunger to win that Farage has. Until an Australian Farage eventually emerges (if he does at all), de Percy will have to keep dreaming, alas.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, It’s time for a Reform Australia Party.

While Reform UK has shown the way, the Liberal Party has gone astray. It’s time for a Reform Australia Party.

What would a Reform Australia Party look like, and who might lead it?

Matt Canavan, Alex Antic, Pauline Hanson???https://t.co/aUR0pZ09K5

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) July 1, 2025

Climate change strikes Canberra

Cold winters in the Canberra region? Quelle surprise!

Like a GBU-57 bunker buster, global warming turned into global boiling and then suddenly turned into weather so cold it burst pipes in Canberra schools. Using the expression that has now been put into text by our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, it must be CLIIIIIIMATE CHAAAAAAAANGE!!!

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

Are you cold? Apparently burst icy pipes in Canberra are a sign of the global warming apocalypse. Don’t question it.

In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes wrote:

Lastly, Michael de Percy has an annoyance du jour. Canberra and its surrounding regions lately have been experiencing their severest cold weather for a while (but has it reached the regular minus 9s of my early 80s uni days at the ANU?), But no, the official explanation in the Stalinist Republic of the Molonglo is man-made climate change, and that rightly annoys Dr de Percy.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Climate change strikes Canberra.

Suddenly the weather is so cold it burst pipes in Canberra schools.

Using the expression that has now been put into text by our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, it must be CLIIIIIIMATE CHAAAAAAAANGE!!!https://t.co/NjXAJSaeTL

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 29, 2025

Tony Burke’s detention inaction

Tony Burke surrounded by supporters on the night of the 2025 Federal Election.

The Albanese government’s refusal to detain dangerous criminals, citing legal barriers, is a shameful abdication of responsibility.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s claim that the NZYQ cohort – former immigration detainees with alleged serious criminal convictions – cannot be held under preventative detention laws is not just weak, it is my view that it also endangers Australian citizens.

In a new low, this decision prioritises legal technicalities over public safety, exposing a government unfit to protect its citizens.

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

Speaking of trouble, Michael de Percy took aim at Tony Burke for his apparent weakness regarding foreign criminals released into the Australian community. 

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Tony Burke’s detention inaction.

The Albanese government’s refusal to detain dangerous criminals, citing legal barriers, is a shameful abdication of responsibility.

Burke’s excuse that legal thresholds are too high is unacceptable. If the law is inadequate, they must amend it.https://t.co/0bmtG38ZmO

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 29, 2025