Liberal Party of Australia

The Australian center right party, founded in 1944 by Robert Menzies.

Overview

Menzies founded the Liberals in 1944-45 from the wreckage of the United Australia Party, a coalition of liberals and conservatives against Labor socialism. He governed 1949-66, the longest Australian prime ministership, with migration boom, alliance orthodoxy, and private homebuilding. Fraser, Howard 1996-2007 with gun reform and GST, Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison continued the tradition, in coalition with the Nationals throughout. The party of business, suburbs, and the middle class, it defines the Australian right as liberal in name, mixing market economics with social conservatism, now led by Peter Dutton in opposition.