CPAC Event in Western Australia: "Reset the West" Focuses on Liberal Strategy

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) recently held its "Reset the West" event in Western Australia, signaling efforts by the Liberal Party to re-establish its center-right appeal. The conference comes amid significant political shifts, with the Liberal Party facing electoral setbacks at both state and federal levels. Polls indicate a notable rise in One Nation's primary vote share, potentially surpassing the Liberals in some areas.

Key Discussions: Immigration, Economy, and Housing

Immigration and Economic Pressures

Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie addressed the audience, asserting that current immigration numbers were "too high" and standards "too low." He connected rapid population growth to increased pressure on infrastructure, essential services, and domestic inflation, which reached 4.9% in Perth by late 2025 (compared to Australia's annual rate of 3.8%).

Hastie suggested public frustration with both major parties over a "broken system" has fueled the rise of One Nation, teal independents, and the Greens.

Economic modeling, however, suggests that entirely eliminating migration for a decade would only result in property prices being 2.3% higher by the mid-2030s than with continued expected migration.

Housing Crisis Takes Centre Stage

Western Australia's housing affordability crisis was a prominent theme. WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas criticized the Cook Labor government for accumulating multi-billion dollar surpluses without adequately tackling the housing issue.

He voiced concern that a generation of West Australians was losing hope of homeownership and emphasized the Liberal party's need to re-engage "lost Australians" in outer suburbs who have become disillusioned with political parties.

CPAC's Moderate Tone and Party Dynamics

The Perth CPAC event was notably described as more moderate in tone compared to its United States counterpart, which is known for its populist, anti-immigration, and anti-woke rhetoric. The conference appeared to be primarily an attempt by the Liberal Party to counter the rising influence of One Nation, rather than a broader unification of the right-wing.

Speakers included WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas, upper house Liberal counterpart Nick Goiran, and former politician Warren Mundine, who chairs CPAC. Some attendees observed the absence of One Nation representatives. CPAC director Andrew Cooper explained that senior Liberal figures like Andrew Hastie and Basil Zempilas were prioritized due to their prominent conservative standing.

Expert Analysis: Disconnects and Public Sentiment

Notre Dame University political scientist Martin Drum provided insight, indicating that public sentiment blaming migrants for housing unaffordability directly contributes to One Nation's support, given their strong anti-immigration stance. Drum also pointed to broader economic anxieties, rising inflation, and anti-globalization sentiments as contributing factors.

He highlighted a significant disconnect between the anti-immigration rhetoric at the conference and the real demand for skilled workers, particularly within Western Australia's construction industry, where immigrants are often crucial for building houses.