Liberals warned against going ‘into the margins’ as Coalition loses power across mainland

Debate over direction of party highlights challenges for Peter Dutton, as Coalition searches for answers after NSW election loss

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The Liberal party cannot afford to “go into the margins” of political debate or rely on division in society, a key federal senator has warned, after the New South Wales election left the Coalition on the opposition benches in every mainland parliament.

But other federal members of the opposition are urging the Coalition to further embrace conservative values and focus less on climate change, highlighting the challenge facing Peter Dutton as the Liberal and National parties continue searching for answers after election losses across the nation.