Liberal review of Peter Dutton’s disastrous 2025 election loss won’t be released publicly

A Liberal review of former opposition leader Peter Dutton’s disastrous 2025 election loss won’t be released publicly after a decision by the party’s federal executive.

The review had been complete last year and poured over for months by party elders Nick Minchin and Pru Goward but was delayed after Mr Dutton had raised concerns over its contents.

Mr Minchin told The Nightly he was “disappointed” it wouldn’t be publicly released but said he was buoyed the party had accepted all recommendations.

In a statement released on Friday, the party’s federal executive said it would “move quickly to drive implementation” .

“What’s important now is that we strengthen our Party for the future,” it stated, thanking Mr Minchin, Ms Goward amongst “hundreds” of others for their contribution.

“Our objective is simple: Rebuild the Party. Restore trust with voters. Win again.

“The Review recognises the Party’s enduring strengths. It also sets out where processes failed, where connection with voters was lost, and where we must do better.

“Australians expect a credible alternative government. We will deliver one.”

Mr Minchin, who undertook the work without remuneration, described it as a “very important review” which canvassed the views of party members and MPs and candidates all over Australia. He urged the party to take the recommendations seriously.

“I am disappointed that the Federal executive has chosen not to publish the review, although I’m pleased that they have accepted all our recommendations and the pledged to act upon them,” he said.

“Given that the result was so bad, and I think we’ve made some very sensible recommendations as to what needs to happen as a result of that election result, I’m confident the party will act upon them.”

Just nine months after Mr Dutton’s loss, the worst in the party’s history, former opposition leader Sussan Ley was rolled by Angus Taylor in a decisive 34-17 vote in the party room.

Mr Minchin said he was “optimistic” that the party would be present a “competitive” offering at the next federal election.

“Mr Taylor is made a very successful transition into the leadership and appointed a very competent front bench and I’m optimistic that they have learnt a lessons from the terrible defeat in 2025 and we’ll ensure that we are much more competitive at the 2028 elections,” he said.

“I don’t think the fact of replacing Sussan with Angus of itself will damage the party in its rebuilding phase, but it does have to demonstrate to women voters, as well as all voters, that it’s understood the mistakes and problems from the 2025 campaign and that they will be corrected and that the party will perform accordingly.”

He added that the upcoming by-election in the NSW regional seat of Farrer would be a “big test” for Mr Taylor adding that it would be “very important that the Liberal party perform well there”.

Amid the surge in support in polls for One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s eyeing of the seat, he said: “I think certainly the Coalition needs to understand why there has been a leakage of our vote, the Coalition vote, to One Nation and respond accordingly”.