Mal is unable to effectively debate most Lib policies because his heart is elsewhere. Why he wanted to be PM I have no idea. However his party replaced Tony to minimize the electoral damage that Tony, basically a no hoper, was doing. Peta Credlin is 100% correct.
However there is no obvious explanation as to why the Libs are running dead. They are slowly taking into account the volume of gen v voters who are flooding the electorates. These guys have been poisoned by 30 years of school Pacifism and what is Green ideology. Policies need to reflect these new guys.
Bill appeals to our Ruling Class as a proven traitor to workers. His grubby deals with employers to keep wages down in return for donations is an echo of Hawkey. He is someone who they can trust.
Yet have you ever listened to Bill. He has a good memory but has no idea. His policies will drive businesses over to ASIA. He has adopted the Green "holier than thou" manner and is speaking more and more with their mono-think view of the world.