Self-confident democratisation within established political parties turns the tide against weak membership and enhances electoral prospects. These are the lessons from the Victorian division of the Liberal Party and the critical future direction for our New South Wales kin.

Fifty years ago 5.8 per cent of Australians were members of political parties  – approximately 684,000 people across the nation – and more than 25 per cent of Australians were members of the trade union movement.