How the Canberra Liberals could win government in 2024

His forensic attention to detail and experience as a local member and parliamentarian will undoubtedly be missed by the party.

But it will allow leader Elizabeth Lee to forge her own path to the lofty goal of any Liberal in Canberra: winning government.

Coe's often talked about social conservatism did help poison the Liberals' chances at the 2020 election.

But his performance over the election campaign ultimately showed his leadership was untenable, policies collapsing under even slight scrutiny.

Moderate Lee should be able to appeal to a wider Canberra audience, but she will have to play her cards right.

As of yet, Lee has not put forward any significant new policies, or positioned the party significantly differently from under Coe's leadership.

A notable exception was publicly calling for the restoration of the territories' right to legislate on euthanasia.

The party needs to reinvent itself if it is to beat a Labor-Greens coalition in 2024, and Coe's departure should allow it to turn a new leaf.

Lee needs to have a bold vision for Canberra. Coming up with credible and ambitious policies around climate change and renewable energy should be front and centre.

The Liberals' confused green policies leading into the election campaign (who can forget the pledge to plant 1 million trees?) appeared nothing more than lame gimmicks, designed to tick a box while appeasing the conservative elements of the party.

They tried to appeal to Green voters without overtly focusing on climate change. I think it's fair to say not many people bought it.

The next election may be the Liberals' best chance to form government in years. Labor is heading towards a power vacuum, with Andrew Barr unlikely to see the term out but no clear successor.

He will want to shore up a succession plan that aligns with his vision and personal legacy before stepping down.

The plan was thrown off course when his preferred successor, Meegan Fitzharris, abruptly quit politics in 2019.

It left Chris Steel as the only viable candidate from the right of the party, but his youth and inexperience may not line up with Barr's timeline.

Deputy leader Yvette Berry is the left's pick for the next chief minister, but there are question marks over her leadership potential.

Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, also a member of the left, has proven a strong performer in the high-pressure portfolio of health but would not have the numbers to challenge Berry.

Barr may not have cult following other state leaders enjoy, but he is a generally trusted figure and has a level of name recognition that's hard to come by in ACT politics.

Labor's unclear succession plan may just be Lee's best chance at grabbing an against-the-odds victory in 2024.

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