PERTH—Federal Liberal leader Brendan Nelson today said the party should maintain its traditional values while developing new policies in order to win back government.
He told the Young Liberal federal convention in Perth today that the party should not reject its traditions, but should develop new policies to take to the next election.
Dr Nelson was elevated to Liberal party leader after former Prime Minister John Howard was ousted at the November 24 election after 11 and a half years in power.
"We've come a long way but we've still got a long way to go," he told the Young Liberals, quoting a line from his favourite Slim Dusty album, Looking Forward, Looking Back.
"Times may change but our values do not."
The Liberals, under Mr Howard, had achieved much in time in power, Dr Nelson said.
Workplace relations and tax reform, education choices, border protection and national security were among the former government's achievements, he said.
"We changed Australia."
But the Australian people had wanted change, which Dr Nelson said was due to three things - the longevity of the Government, the campaign against the former Government's workplace relations reform and environmental concerns.
The task ahead was to reach out to people on the margins of society, support job creation and develop policies by listening to the Australian people.
"The next election, which may be sooner than we think, is imminently winnable," Dr Nelson said.
"In the next three years we will work hard to listen to every Australian."
Dr Nelson said Australia faced five key challenges - maintaining prosperity, making the federation work, meeting environmental deadlines as part of a global solution, national security and ensuring a cohesive society.
Australians needed to look forward to the future and put their background, race and religion aside, Dr Nelson said.
"We are Australians first and we are Australians last."
Applauding Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's decision to commission a White Paper on homelessness, Dr Nelson said measures to address the problem would be supported by the Liberal Party.
"We will make sure we support the Government in what's good for Australia," Dr Nelson said.
But it was important the people knew what the party stood for and not just against and to drive the political agenda.
Former ministers Tony Abbott, Alexander Downer and Julie Bishop addressed the convention delegates during the two day conference.
Motions including supporting nuclear energy development and use in Australia, recognising Mr Howard as the nation's best ever Prime Minister, and supporting of the Liberal Party's commitment to Industrial Relations reform were passed on the first day of the conference.