Across the country there is a growing chorus of disillusioned conservative voters. I hear it everywhere I go. Some have walked away from the Liberal Party. Some are casting informal ballots. Some are tuning out altogether. And as someone who shares the frustrations of the conservative voter over the past few years, I understand the sentiment. But I am also here to offer a challenge: don’t give up. Lean in.

Why do I say this? Because, if we are to turn this ship around, we need people of conviction willing to stay in the fight – even when it costs. I firmly believe in the core values of the Liberal Party, and I believe our nation cannot flourish without them.

Let me begin with what must be said clearly: mistakes have been made. The fiscal mismanagement during the pandemic, including by the then Federal Liberal government – was a major contributor to the cost-of-living crisis we face today. Lockdowns created an artificial economic vacuum, and governments responded by paying people not to work. The damage was predictable. It was known at the time that lockdowns would have social, economic, and health consequences, especially for the vulnerable. That policy failure has led us to where we are now. And let’s not forget the other Covid policy failures that have done more to erode public trust in government and institutions than anything we’ve seen in living memory. These failures need to be acknowledged and remedied.

Meanwhile, the overreach continues. Small businesses, the engine room of our economy, are suffocating under red tape and over-regulation. The middle class is being taxed into exhaustion. Freedom of speech is under threat from legislation like the failed ‘misinformation bill’ which will no doubt get another airing soon. Freedom of movement is at risk with the WHO-led international pandemic treaties. And every day Australians are growing weary of the increasingly compulsory ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ at every public event – not because they disrespect Indigenous culture, but because they recognise performative division when they see it.

In many instances, voters feel ignored. People want to be heard, not bulldozed. I believe public consultation – genuine town hall-style engagement – can change hearts and minds on both sides, but only if the government is willing to listen first.

This is not just about bad policies. It’s about a failure of courage. Too many leaders are afraid to name the truth for fear of backlash. Voters can see it. They feel abandoned. What they want – what they deserve – is leadership grounded in principle, not polling.

And that brings us back to conservatism, real conservatism.

At its heart, conservatism is not a marketing strategy. It is a philosophy rooted in enduring truths including fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and limited government.

Any household or small business owner understands the importance of living within your means. Spending is necessary, especially on infrastructure that grows the nation and creates jobs. But debt must be good debt. We must stop the cycle of reckless government handouts that produce no value and inflate the cost of living.

Then there is the individual. A truly conservative government recognises that every person is born with inherent dignity and unalienable rights: the right to life, liberty, conscience, free speech, religious expression, and the pursuit of happiness. Our role as elected representatives is not to manufacture those rights, but to protect them. Public policy must promote education and health, defend the family, and honour hard work – reserving assistance for those truly in need.

Finally, government must know its place. A sprawling bureaucracy, endless red tape, and ever-expanding intrusion into personal and family life is not the hallmark of a free society. An engaged electorate is the best check on government overreach. But that only works when people feel they have a voice.

Right now, too many conservatives feel voiceless. They want common sense restored to our public life. They want to be able to say what a woman is without being labelled a bigot. They want taxpayer funds to stop propping up radical gender ideology. They want the government to defend children, not confuse them. They want sane, practical energy policies that innovate, rather than sabotage. They want immigration policy that reflects housing and infrastructure realities. They want a government that works for them, not the other way around.

So, why should we keep showing up, even though the odds are stacked against us? Because values matter. And conviction means holding to those values even when the winds blow against you. Anyone can go along with the crowd. But real leaders are called to take responsibility and do what’s right even when it’s not easy.

It would be easy to walk away. Easier still to point fingers from the sidelines. But as Theodore Roosevelt so famously put it, ‘It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.’ That’s where I’ve chosen to be: bruised, imperfect, but committed to fighting for what I believe in. You can read the full quote here, and I hope you do.

We all have a role to play. You can jeer from the stands, or you can step into the arena. Support candidates who share your values, or better still join up and get involved. Speak up in your communities. Start conversations. Build networks. The only way we lose is if we stop showing up.

This may feel like the dark night of the soul for conservative Australia. But we must not forget: the only hope for our nation’s renewal lies in the strength of those who still believe in its foundations.

Prosperity doesn’t come from empty promises. Flourishing doesn’t come from division and dependency. It comes from courage, conviction, and community.

It comes from conservatism.

So lean in. Get up. Show up. And be counted.

Dr Julie Sladden is a Tasmanian Local Government Councillor and retired medical doctor. If you’d like to support her caffeine-inspired writing, you can shout her a coffee here.