Robert Menzies had already served as Prime Minister of Australia (1939-41), but he believed that the non-Labor parties should unite to present a strong alternative government to the Australian people. 

 Eighty men and women from 18 non-Labor political parties and organisations attended the first Canberra conference. 

 They shared a common belief that Australians should have greater personal freedom and choice than that offered under Labor’s post-war socialist plans. 

 Robert Menzies believed the time was right for a new political force in Australia - one which fought for the freedom of the individual and produced enlightened liberal policies. 

 In his opening address at that meeting, he said: 

 It is often said that Robert Menzies stood for the ‘forgotten people’ of Australia; those mainstream Australians whose goals, needs and aspirations had been ignored by Government. 

 On October 16, 1944, the name The Liberal Party of Australia was adopted, uniting the many different political organisations. Two months later, at the Albury Conference, the Party’s organisational and constitutional framework was drawn up. 

 The name Liberal was chosen deliberately for its associations with progressive nineteenth century free enterprise and social equality. By May 1945 membership of the Liberal Party had swelled to 40,000. 

 It fought its first election in 1946 with some success and in 1947, the Liberal Party won State Government in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. In 1949 the Liberals, in coalition with the Country Party, were first elected to national government. 

 Sir Robert Menzies went on to lead Australia and the Liberal Party for 17 years, before he retired from politics in 1966. 

 The Liberal Party has become Australia’s most successful postwar party; it was elected to Government for 23 years from 1949 to 1972, and for another term of more than seven years from 1975 to 1983. 

 In 1996, the Australian people again re-elected the Liberal Party, in Coalition with the National Party of Australia, to govern Australia in a landslide win, and in 1998, 2001 & 2004 that government was re-elected. 

In 2013, the Abbott Coalition Government took office. In September 2015, Malcolm Turnbull was elected Liberal Party Leader and became Australia’s 29th Prime Minister.

 Our Leaders from 1944 Onwards

 | Robert Menzies |  1944 - 1966  |  Prime Minister (1949 - 1966)
| Harold Holt |  1966 - 1967  |  Prime Minister
| John Gorton |  1968 - 1971  |  Prime Minister
| William McMahon |  1971 - 1972  |  Prime Minister
| Bill Snedden |  1972 - 1975  |  Leader of the Opposition
| Malcolm Fraser |  1975 - 1983  |  Prime Minister
| Andrew Peacock |  1983 - 1985  |  Leader of the Opposition
| John Howard |  1985 -1989  |  Leader of the Opposition
| Andrew Peacock |  1989 - 1990  |  Leader of the Opposition
| John Hewson |  1990 - 1994  |  Leader of the Opposition
| Alexander Downer |  1994 - 1995  |  Leader of the Opposition
| John Howard |  1995 - 2007  |  Prime Minister (1996 - 2007)
| Brendan Nelson |  2007 - 2008  |  Leader of the Opposition
| Malcolm Turnbull |  2008 - 2009  |  Leader of the Opposition
| Tony Abbott |  2009 - 2015  |  Prime Minister (2013 - 2015)
| Malcolm Turnbull |  2015 - present  |  Prime Minister 

 Our Electoral Success - from Past to Present

 |  Federal Governed in coalition
1949 - 1972
1975 - 1983
1996 - 2007
2013 - present  |  Victoria Governed in own right
1948 - 1950
1955 - 1982
Governed in coalition
1947 - 1948
1992 - 1999
2010 - 2014  |  New South Wales Governed in coalition
1965 - 1976
1988 - 1995
2011 - present
|  Queensland Governed in coalition
1957 - 1983
1996 - 1998
Governed as Liberal National Party
2012 - 2015  |  South Australia Governed as Liberal
 Country League
1933 - 1965
1968 - 1970
Governed as Liberal Party
1979 - 1982
1993 - 2002  |  Western Australia Governed in coalition
1947 - 1953
1959 - 1971
1974 - 1983
1993 - 2001
2008 - 2017
|  Tasmania Governed in coalition
1969 - 1972
Governed in own right
1982 - 1989
1992 - 1998
2014 - present  |  Northern Territory  NT Country Liberal Party
1974 - 2001
2012 - 2016  |  ACT  Self-government since 1989Governed in coalition
1989 - 1991
1995 - 2001 

Authorised by Andrew Hirst, Liberal Party of Australia, Cnr Blackall & Macquarie Streets, Barton ACT 2600

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Robert Menzies had already served as Prime Minister of Australia (1939-41), but he believed that the non-Labor parties should unite to present a strong alternative government to the Australian people.

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The basic purpose of political parties is to nominate candidates for public office and to get as many of them elected as possible.

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The basic purpose of political parties is to nominate candidates for public office and to get as many of them elected as possible.

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The basic purpose of political parties is to nominate candidates for public office and to get as many of them elected as possible.

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The basic purpose of political parties is to nominate candidates for public office and to get as many of them elected as possible.

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The basic purpose of political parties is to nominate candidates for public office and to get as many of them elected as possible.

They shared a common belief that Australians should have greater personal freedom and choice than that offered under Labor’s post-war socialist plans.

Many voters demonstrate party identification, even though they do not formally belong to a party. So a voter might claim to be a Democrat, even though she does not pay dues, hold a membership card, or technically belong to that party. Other voters see themselves as independents: These voters do not belonging to any party, and they willingly vote for the best candidate regardless of that person’s party affiliation.

The number of people in the United States who identify themselves as independents has increased significantly in the past thirty years. Some scholars argue that this fact suggests that political parties are weakening. It is not clear, however, just how independent these people really are. Some scholars have argued that many people who call themselves independents always vote for the same party, just like partisans do. 

Political socialization influences party identification. Family beliefs, education, socioeconomic conditions, and recent political events all help determine whether a person chooses to identify with a political party.

In the United States, the electorate breaks down roughly into thirds: One-third of voters identify themselves as Democrats, one-third as Republicans, and one-third as independents. These numbers, however, fluctuate to some degree, especially around elections

Many voters demonstrate party identification, even though they do not formally belong to a party. So a voter might claim to be a Democrat, even though she does not pay dues, hold a membership card, or technically belong to that party. Other voters see themselves as independents: These voters do not belonging to any party, and they willingly vote for the best candidate regardless of that person’s party affiliation.

The number of people in the United States who identify themselves as independents has increased significantly in the past thirty years. Some scholars argue that this fact suggests that political parties are weakening. It is not clear, however, just how independent these people really are. Some scholars have argued that many people who call themselves independents always vote for the same party, just like partisans do. 

Political socialization influences party identification. Family beliefs, education, socioeconomic conditions, and recent political events all help determine whether a person chooses to identify with a political party.

In the United States, the electorate breaks down roughly into thirds: One-third of voters identify themselves as Democrats, one-third as Republicans, and one-third as independents. These numbers, however, fluctuate to some degree, especially around elections

A political party is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government. Political parties compete against one another for political power and for the ability to put their philosophies and policies into effect.

Many voters demonstrate party identification, even though they do not formally belong to a party. So a voter might claim to be a Democrat, even though she does not pay dues, hold a membership card, or technically belong to that party. Other voters see themselves as independents: These voters do not belonging to any party, and they willingly vote for the best candidate regardless of that person’s party affiliation.

The number of people in the United States who identify themselves as independents has increased significantly in the past thirty years. Some scholars argue that this fact suggests that political parties are weakening. It is not clear, however, just how independent these people really are. Some scholars have argued that many people who call themselves independents always vote for the same party, just like partisans do. 

Political socialization influences party identification. Family beliefs, education, socioeconomic conditions, and recent political events all help determine whether a person chooses to identify with a political party.

In the United States, the electorate breaks down roughly into thirds: One-third of voters identify themselves as Democrats, one-third as Republicans, and one-third as independents. These numbers, however, fluctuate to some degree, especially around elections

A political party is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government. Political parties compete against one another for political power and for the ability to put their philosophies and policies into effect.

Many voters demonstrate party identification, even though they do not formally belong to a party. So a voter might claim to be a Democrat, even though she does not pay dues, hold a membership card, or technically belong to that party. Other voters see themselves as independents: These voters do not belonging to any party, and they willingly vote for the best candidate regardless of that person’s party affiliation.

The number of people in the United States who identify themselves as independents has increased significantly in the past thirty years. Some scholars argue that this fact suggests that political parties are weakening. It is not clear, however, just how independent these people really are. Some scholars have argued that many people who call themselves independents always vote for the same party, just like partisans do. 

Political socialization influences party identification. Family beliefs, education, socioeconomic conditions, and recent political events all help determine whether a person chooses to identify with a political party.

In the United States, the electorate breaks down roughly into thirds: One-third of voters identify themselves as Democrats, one-third as Republicans, and one-third as independents. These numbers, however, fluctuate to some degree, especially around elections