The problem the Liberal Party has is this. Those who want to bring their party into the 2020s are shouted down by those who grew up on a diet of kicking down.

I call it the Howard doctrine. During a time of unprecedented wealth, parts, not all, of the boomer generation bit down hard on this doctrine.

Howard was a master at this sort of politics. He tapped into an illusion, a fantasy that all the wealth being accumulated was all down to hard work. In reality it was a mix of hard work, good luck, massive middle class tax breaks for property owners and living in an abnormal economic period that we will never see again.

He convinced these voters that those not doing well only had themselves to blame, not the system. It was a masterful illusion.

Many who now shout down Liberal MPs or activists who want to modernise long for the Howard era. Hence they are always looking for that next victim.

They make statement’s like “broad church” but in reality have no want or need to talk to the middle - a middle that is rapidly growing and also intolerant - of these hard right wing talking heads.