Liberal’s Leader Angus Taylor Admits Coalition’s Past Mistakes at Conservative Conference

BRISBANE, Australia—Liberal Party Leader Angus Taylor has acknowledged mistakes made by previous Coalition governments on immigration, pandemic spending, and net zero policies, while vowing to take the party in a more conservative direction.

Taylor made the remarks at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Australia, held at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane on Oct. 10–11.

“We got some big things right, but we got some important things wrong too,” he told the crowd.

“We made the mistake of allowing immigration numbers to creep up, especially student and bridging visas, which have subsequently exploded under the Albanese government.”

Taylor also acknowledged that the Coalition had spent too much during the COVID-19 pandemic and made a mistake in committing to net zero emissions.

“The coalition is once again conviction-led and unashamedly on the right, we have a bold agenda to save our country.

“We must never surrender to socialism.”

Taylor criticised the Labor government’s economic record, arguing that economic growth had been driven largely by population increases rather than productivity.

“Every dollar of growth under this government has been due to population growth, mostly from mass migration under Labor, which won’t scale fast,” he said.

He reiterated the Coalition’s commitment to abandoning net zero emissions targets and expanding Australia’s energy and resources sectors.

“We will scrap net zero,” he said.

Taylor also outlined plans to expand coal, gas, oil, and uranium production and lift the ban on nuclear power.

Conservative Leaders Gather at CPAC

This year’s conference marks the first time a Liberal Party leader has addressed CPAC Australia since the Australian event began in 2019.

Taylor was joined by One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson and Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, marking a rare gathering of the leaders of the Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation at CPAC Australia.

Other speakers include One Nation Senator Barnaby Joyce, Victorian Liberal Senator Bridget McKenzie, and television presenter Karl Stefanovic.

This year’s event theme, “Unleash Australia’s Future by igniting a new era of principled conservative leadership,” reflects organisers’ efforts to unite conservative political forces.

CPAC Australia Chairman Warren Mundine called for greater cooperation among conservative parties to defeat the Albanese government.

“We want to unite the conservative forces of Australia and kick the Albanese Marxist government out,” he said in his opening address.

“We had a dream of bringing the conservative forces together to make this country great again.

“Focus on the Australian people and bring that Australian dream back.”

CPAC 2026 comes amidst a surge in One Nation support and ahead of Victoria’s state election in November.

The party won both Farrer and Secret Harbour by-elections earlier in the year, and is currently leading in polls of first-party preferences.

CPAC Australia is a non-profit conservative movement that promotes political ideals associated with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The original CPAC conference was established in the United States in 1974, with Reagan delivering the keynote address while serving as governor of California.