Liberalism in Australia begins with the people themselves - their individual strengths, their hopes and aspirations, their vitality and creativity, which generate more ideas, enterprise, energy and achievement than can ever be comprehended by a Government or its bureaucracy, or indeed by any other large institutions. The aim of Liberal Governments is to promote institutions or frameworks that encourage individual energies, rather than frustrate them.
Liberalism's central task is to safeguard and advance the freedom of the individual and to subject all constraints on the individual to ever more stringent scrutiny. In a liberal society governments and other institutions, such as public and private corporations and trade unions, must be made to serve individuals, not master them. Great ingenuity is needed to safeguard the essential individual freedoms without destroying the benefits undoubtedly provided by such institutions.
External constraints are not the only threats to individual freedom and the development of individual potential.
Unnecessary and destructive constraints on the mind can be equally threatening. Liberals reject attempts to promote class division, to restrict social mobility, to divide city and country, or to separate those in one occupation from those in another. All Australians share common interests in a just and prosperous society and will achieve more for all through tolerance, understanding and co-operation than through enmity and conflict.
Liberalism supports the institution of the family, wishing to strengthen it as the fundamental social group. The values of families and the decisions they make have a profound influence on the well-being of the nation. However, liberalism respects and defends the right of individuals to choose their own lifestyles.
Liberals favour independent decision making, preferring individuals, families, associations and businesses to decide as many things as possible for themselves without government intervention and to accept responsibility for their decisions. Within government, Liberals encourage decentralisation decision making by State and local governments, which are closest to those affected. They seek to reserve for Federal Government decision, only those issues of truly national significance.
Australian liberalism supports the Constitution, not as a lifeless record of the compact of federation, but as a living framework capable of development by discussion and consent. It endorses the principle of constitutional and representative democracy, operating through a bicameral national Parliament. It recognises the sovereignty and individual characteristics of the States and the significant role of local government. It sees virtue in the checks and balances to central power inherent in this arrangement.
Australian liberalism is therefore unashamedly federalist in outlook, but demands a moderate and cooperative stance from all three spheres of government to make the system work.
Liberals believe in private property, private enterprise in a competitive market and economic growth. They believe in reward for effort, minimum but effective government and low taxes. They believe that the bigger the economic cake, the bigger each individual's share will be.
They believe also that expanding the scope of the competitive market, thus widening consumer choice, is an important safeguard against the erosion of basic rights and freedoms. They acknowledge, however, that competition will not be preserved without government action to combat restrictive, anti-market practices on the part of businesses, government corporations or trade unions.
Australian liberalism favours an active and creative role for government in social policy. Liberals want to extend choice in the provision of education, health and welfare services. Especially in education - vital to a free, open and civilised society - they want to widen the choice between private and public education to more families, and they want to provide more choice within the public school system. In health and welfare they want compassionate, but cost effective systems of financial support and delivery, again with more choice. Governments should encourage self help not replace it.
The services that are provided should be examined against the ability of Australians to pay for them. Good management within the Government and careful evaluation of programmes will ensure resources are well used.
Liberals believe that in social policy everything possible should be done to ensure equality of opportunity in a way that does not limit individual initiative, achievement or reward. Liberals do not want to level people down: they want everybody to be able to advance as far as their abilities allow.
In the arts, humanities and science, Liberals see an active role of encouragement by modern government, in removing constraints on human creativity, promoting private support and where necessary providing direct government funding. The liberal emphasis is on the individual as the mainspring of creativity and the advance of civilisation.
Externally, Australian liberalism is devoted to the promotion of the same ideals as it is within Australia. It believes that democratic societies provide individuals throughout the world with their best chance of personal freedom and material advancement. Liberalism seeks to combine economic strength and increasing self reliance in our national defence with a practical concern for the individual rights of others as the foundation of a lasting and just peace.
Finally, Liberals acknowledge the role of positive leadership in national affairs. The very diversity encouraged by the liberal philosophy demands leadership both to sustain and strengthen the freedom and rights of individuals against the constant threats of increased bureaucracy and sectional interests, and to ensure effective action in those carefully defined areas where concerted national effort is essential.
Source: "The Liberal Party of Australia Federal Platform"