Terry Barnes
Wed Feb 04 2026
For all Australian political followers, this episode of The Experts is for you. There is no doubt that the current political environment is reaching new depths of despair for the opposition and for those who consider themselves conservative voters. There is effectively no opposition; the Coalition has become a “no-alition,” and the rise of One Nation can only mean that the ALP government, led by Albanese, does not really have to do much at all.
Nic Hayes speaks with one of Australia’s most astute political commentators, Terry Barnes from Cormorant Advisory, who previously held advisory roles to two Health Ministers under the John Howard government. Terry has never seen his beloved Liberal Party fall tocurrent depths. It appears to be a perfect storm of egos, economic pressures, and social conditions that is fuelling a very public rift in leadership and policy, one that seems to have no quick fix.
The rise of One Nation is certainly a beneficiary of this chaos, and both Nic and Terry believe this surge is a bubble waiting to burst. If history is anything to go by, there will be a flaw in Hanson’s popularity, but until the Liberals and Nationals sort themselves out, this rise is likely to continue.
At present, the only entity holding the current government to account is the media. Australian politics, and the future of our nation and democracy; requires a strong opposition. No one can put a finger on when that might happen, but it needs to happen soon.
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For all Australian political followers, this episode of The Experts is for you. There is no doubt that the current political environment is reaching new depths of despair for the opposition and for those who consider themselves conservative voters. There is effectively no opposition; the Coalition has become a “no-alition,” and the rise of One Nation can only mean that the ALP government, led by Albanese, does not really have to do much at all. Nic Hayes speaks with one of Australia’s most astute political commentators, Terry Barnes from Cormorant Advisory, who previously held advisory roles to two Health Ministers under the John Howard government. Terry has never seen his beloved Liberal Party fall tocurrent depths. It appears to be a perfect storm of egos, economic pressures, and social conditions that is fuelling a very public rift in leadership and policy, one that seems to have no quick fix. The rise of One Nation is certainly a beneficiary of this chaos, and both Nic and Terry believe this surge is a bubble waiting to burst. If history is anything to go by, there will be a flaw in Hanson’s popularity, but until the Liberals and Nationals sort themselves out, this rise is likely to continue. At present, the only entity holding the current government to account is the media. Australian politics, and the future of our nation and democracy; requires a strong opposition. No one can put a finger on when that might happen, but it needs to happen soon.