Australia’s political culture mistakes authority, comfort and continuity for leadership. Without the courage to create disequilibrium and confront hard choices, real reform remains impossible.

Sussan Ley was never given a real chance by the pale, male and stale of the Liberal Party.

But she made a serious mistake in trying keep the peace not only within her own Party but with the crazies in the National Party who have sold out to the miners. David Littleproud did more damage to Sussan Ley than members of her own party.

A break from the National Party, at least in opposition, would have given the Liberal Party an opportunity and time to sort out its own problems. Some shake up, some disequilibrium instead of peace in our time would have helped.

At least she would have gone down fighting had she decided to break from the Nationals.

The Liberal Party must win urban seats, and the National Party is a hindrance in doing that.

Unfortunately, we often confuse leadership with authority. Sussan Ley had authority but maybe not much in the way of leadership qualities. Chris Minns has authority but is there much beyond the evening television sound bites.

Or Anthony Albanese in treatment of Australian mothers and children in Syria. Hardly leadership!

Good leadership is about facing the group up to hard issues. Without clearly defining why and how we need to change and creating some disequilibrium there will be no worthwhile change. That is what happened when we lost our way on climate change.

We have an unfortunate habit of thinking that if only we could change our leaders, we could solve our problems. Yet after disposing leaders we are often no better off.

Will that now be the case with Angus Taylor? He has an impressive CV but is there more? Malcolm Turnbull doubts that there is.

Paul Keating did not have an impressive CV but he got things........

© Pearls and Irritations