The Silent Rebellion: How Regional Voters Abandoned the Liberals, By Bob Farmer, Dairy Farmer

In the bush, where churches still stand tall and flags fly proud, the Liberal Party forgot its roots—and paid the ultimate price. The 2025 Australian federal election was a bloodbath for the Coalition, with their primary vote collapsing to a historic low of 29%, down from 35% in 2022. From a Christian conservative nationalist perspective, this wasn't just a defeat; it was a rebellion by regional and rural voters—farmers, miners, and small-town families—who turned their backs on a party that traded their values for urban Teal seats. Seats like Flynn, Capricornia, and Hunter saw swings of 10–12% to minor parties like One Nation, signalling a deep disillusionment with the Liberals' moderate drift and Labor's urban-centric agenda. This silent rebellion, rooted in faith, sovereignty, and economic independence, holds the key to a conservative resurgence—if minor parties can seize the moment.

Regional Australia, home to 8.8 million people (33% of the population), has long been the backbone of conservative values. These are the communities where Sunday services draw crowds, where Anzac Day is sacred, and where hard work in coal, cattle, and crops defines life. The Liberals, under leaders like Peter Dutton, were supposed to champion these voters. Instead, they chased affluent Teal voters in seats like Kooyong and Bradfield, pandering to urban elites who back net-zero policies, gender ideology, and open borders—ideas anathema to the bush.

The Liberals' 2025 campaign, as George Christensen warned, was sabotaged by internal moderates who diluted Dutton's message and prioritised city seats. Policies like committing to net-zero by 2050, despite coal's $120 billion contribution to regional economies, alienated voters in Queensland's Bowen Basin and NSW's Hunter Valley. The party's lukewarm stance on the Indigenous Voice, which many rural voters saw as a divisive urban project, further eroded trust. Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) data shows a 5–6% primary vote swing away from the Liberals in regional seats, with One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots gaining ground. In Flynn, One Nation's vote rose from 9% in 2022 to 12% in 2025, while Capricornia saw a 10% swing to minor parties.

Labor's landslide victory, securing a 53% two-party-preferred vote, masked its weakness in regional Australia. Anthony Albanese's policies—expanding abortion access, pushing renewable energy zones on farmland, and cozying up to CCP-linked groups like the Chinese Building Association of NSW—clashed with rural values. The 2023 Voice referendum, which failed in every regional electorate outside the ACT, exposed Labor's urban bias. In seats like Maranoa and Wide Bay, Labor's primary vote barely cracked 20%, with voters favouring minor parties over the Coalition's diluted conservatism.

Labor's neglect of regional issues, like the $20 billion live cattle export ban's impact on Northern Territory farmers, fuelled resentment. Yet, the Liberals failed to capitalise, offering no clear alternative. This vacuum allowed minor parties to surge, as voters sought authentic voices for their Christian, nationalist principles.

The silent rebellion manifested in a surge for conservative minor parties, which collectively polled 10–12% nationally, up from 8% in 2022. One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, was the biggest beneficiary, with its anti-net-zero, anti-woke platform resonating in regional strongholds. In Hunter, a coal-dependent seat, One Nation's vote hit 11%, reflecting anger at Labor's renewable push and the Liberals' acquiescence. Trumpet of Patriots, backed by Clive Palmer, polled 5% in Queensland's Hinkler, tapping into economic nationalism. Australian Christians, though smaller, gained 2–3% in seats like Grey, where religious voters opposed Labor's social policies.

Preference flows tell the story: 65–70% of minor party preferences went to the Coalition, but fragmented votes meant no seat wins for One Nation or others. This underscores the need for the cooperative unity strategy—a "Menzies Pact" where minor parties maintain their turf but align preferences and messaging to maximise impact.

From our vantage point, regional Australia's rebellion is a cry for a nation rooted in faith, family, and sovereignty. These voters, who fill pews and defend traditional marriage, reject Labor's secular progressivism and the Liberals' spineless moderation. The Liberals' betrayal—embracing globalist policies like net-zero while ignoring rural struggles—echoes the CCP influence concerns raised earlier, where foreign agendas trump Australian interests. Regional voters want leaders who fear God more than focus groups, who protect coal jobs and reject urban-driven identity politics.

Minor parties, despite their differences, are closer to this vision. One Nation's defence of borders, Australian Christians' pro-life stance, and the Libertarians' resistance to government overreach align with Biblical principles of stewardship and liberty. George Christensen's shift to One Nation and his 50,000-strong media platform amplify this message, urging regional voters to reject the major parties.

To harness this rebellion, minor parties must unite in a cooperative alliance. A formal preference deal, prioritising One Nation, Trumpet of Patriots, and others over Labor and the Greens, could push their combined vote to 15–20% by 2028, winning 5–10 House seats and 10–12 Senate seats. Key regional targets include:

Flynn (Qld): 12% One Nation vote, coal and cattle hub, winnable with unified preferences.

Hunter (NSW): 11% minor party vote, coal-reliant, ripe for a conservative upset.

Grey (SA): 10% swing to minor parties, where Christian voters could tip the balance.

A shared "Menzies Pact" platform—opposing net-zero, defending religious freedoms, and prioritising regional jobs—would galvanize voters. Christensen's podcast and church networks, like the 2022 Church and State Summit, can mobilise the faithful, as seen in the 2017 plebiscite's 38% "No" vote. This alliance aims to force minority Labor governments, stalling their agenda until a black swan event, like a PLA fuel blockade, awakens Australia.

The silent rebellion of regional voters in 2025 was a wake-up call: the Liberals, corrupted by moderate globalists, have lost the bush. These communities, grounded in faith and hard work, turned to One Nation and other minor parties, seeking a voice for their values. Labor's urban bias and CCP-friendly policies only deepen the divide. By uniting in a cooperative alliance, minor parties can channel this rebellion, deny Labor majorities, and preserve Australia's soul until a crisis forces a reckoning. The heartland is ready—conservatives must lead, or lose it all.