Under this model, all eligible electors in an electorate – not just party members – would be allowed to vote in selecting the Liberal Party candidate for a seat.

This model was trialled by the NSW National Party to select its candidate for the Tamworth electorate ahead of the 2011 state election. Kevin Anderson, a former schoolteacher and businessman, won the preselection and went on to win the seat, which he has held ever since.

(Alternatively, a model could be adopted that enfranchises expanded categories of Party membership as suggested above (e.g. “community memberships”), but not the whole voting community.)

Arguments for

Open primaries would allow all voters, not just party members, to have a say in who represents them. This could make the Party appear more democratic, inclusive, and responsive to the broader electorate.

By lowering the barrier to entry for candidates, open primaries could encourage new, non-traditional candidates to run, breaking the cycle of career politicians and enabling more diverse voices to emerge within the party.

Arguments Against

Open primaries could allow members of rival parties or special interest groups to rig or influence the selection of candidates, choosing weaker candidates who are more likely to lose in the general election.

Candidates chosen by external voters who aren’t necessarily aligned with the Party’s core values could potentially result in candidates being selected who are out of step with the party’s long-term values and policies. Such candidates could be at risk of defecting from the Party after being elected as a Liberal.

There is no guarantee this model would improve gender balance.