A politician’s lot in opposition is not a happy one, to paraphrase from the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. But it can be useful.

The Liberal Party-Nationals Coalition is destined to be in opposition for at least another three years after its disastrous performance in the May 2025 election – and possibly longer. But politics can change quickly.

As I have pointed out previously, political commentator Judith Brett wrote in The Age in July 1993 that “the Liberal Party in the 1990s seems doomed”. It was back in office in less than three years.

Following Labor’s defeat by the Malcolm Fraser-led Coalition in December 1977, The Bulletin magazine’s front cover asked: “Is Labor finished?” under a photo of a triumphant Fraser. But Labor was back in office in less than six years.

There is not much talented politicians in opposition can do but to work hard on policy, in addition to their electoral duties. In the public sphere, the task is to achieve publicity without making mistakes. Last week provided an example of what not to do in opposition.

I agree with Greg Sheridan that the talented, articulate and forceful senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has made three significant mistakes since the 2025 election.

First, it was unwise that, having been elected as a Country Liberal Party senator from the Northern Territory who usually sits in the Nationals partyroom in Canberra, she moved to the Liberal partyroom. Second, it lacked judgment to contest the Liberal deputy leader position having just joined the party. Then there was the serious error of claiming there was “concern” in Australia with the “large numbers” of migrants coming to Australia with respect to “the Indian community”.

Rogue Senator Jacinta Nampinjinpa Price has been dumped from the Coalition frontbench in what she has described as a “disappointing episode” for the Liberal Party.

In Nampijinpa Price’s defence, it is true that ABC TV Afternoon Briefing’s presenter Patricia Karvelas was the first who raised what she termed the “strong anti-Indian sentiment”, which she said “was not just about migration numbers, it was about the type of migration coming into Australia”.

Before Nampijinpa Price made her comment, she correctly said to Karvelas “you yourself mentioned that there is a concern with the Indian community and only because there’s been large numbers”. The senator’s error was to state that the “large numbers” of Indian immigrants is “reflected in the way that the community votes for Labor”.

The implication was that the Labor government is allowing immigration from India because, in time, it wants votes from Indian Australians. This is an error of fact. The Australian points-based immigration system awards points for criteria such as age, English proficiency, work experience and qualifications. The large number of Indian immigrants reflects the reality that many readily meet Australia’s immigration criteria.

Under Peter Dutton’s leadership, Nampijinpa Price was the opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman. In this role she was a fine performer in advancing the No case in the voice referendum. Under Sussan Ley’s leadership, Nampijinpa Price was defence industry spokeswoman. Both portfolios, important as they are, are a long way from immigration – which requires a high degree of technical and policy knowledge. During the Karvelas interview, the senator was out of her depth.

However, opposition provides time to do research across numerous portfolios. Policy development is what’s missing in the contemporary Coalition. This is significant since, these days, the Labor Party is much more skilled at basic politics than its rival.

The task of the Liberal Party in opposition is to learn from former leaders Robert Menzies, Malcolm Fraser, John Howard and Tony Abbott – the only Liberal Party leaders who have won government from opposition.

When in opposition for much of the 1940s, Menzies delivered his successful The Forgotten People broadcasts, which were later published. He read widely and delivered numerous speeches. Menzies presented as a leader who was in touch with the middle class and opposed unnecessary government intervention. Agree with him or not, when he became prime minister for the second time in 1949 the electorate knew where he stood.

Former Liberal senator Hollie Hughes says Senator Jacinta Price “lacks discipline” after she was axed from the shadow ministry by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. “No one’s bigger than the team,” Ms Hughes told Sky News host James Macpherson. “We have a bi-election in NSW at the moment, and a block of voters who have been alienated now through the comments she made. “It’s been very frustrating for me to see anyone come out and think that they’re bigger than the Liberal Party.”

Fraser was a minister during the second half of the 60s but also spent time as a backbencher. When not a minister, Fraser focused on speeches and the occasional publications. When he became opposition leader in March 1975 and prime minister in November 1975, Australians knew what he was about.

It’s the same with Howard. Elected in May 1974 in opposition, he was a minister by December 1975. In opposition at times in the 80s and early 90s Howard focused on writing and speeches. When he defeated Paul Keating in 1996, the electorate knew what he stood for.

It was the same with Abbott, who became opposition leader in 2009 and narrowly failed to win the 2010 election. Abbott, who has probably written more than any Liberal Party MP, could always cut through with a clear message.

The lesson is clear. Successful Coalition opposition leaders who win office by defeating incumbent Labor governments invariably get there by sustained policy work over a long period.

Menzies, Fraser, Howard and Abbott were not popular when they won – respectively in 1949, 1975, 1996 and 2013. But all had clear messages and were on top of detail, from foreign policy to immigration.

To be a successful politician requires a lot of hard work and research. Sure, it’s more fun being interviewed on the electronic media or making seemingly clever points on social media. But the lack of knowledge can lead to mistakes. In politics it is better to avoid mistakes than have a high profile.

Ley has been Liberal leader for less than four months. It’s one of the toughest jobs in politics. So far, in a relatively long political career, Ley has not made much contribution to the public debate. But she now has the time and the staff assistance to do so.

The same is true of Nampijinpa Price. Sure, she has political ability. But the real test of judgment is to know what you do not know. It makes the lot of a politician in opposition significantly easier.