Unlike Labor, the Liberals could not offer apparatchik safe houses - all had to find new careers. But the job is about guiding and vision, and one of the first tasks of the new incumbent will be to start hand-picking candidates for preselection. Still, throughout the Liberal misfortunes, their traditional recruitment office, the Young Liberals, has stayed on duty. John Howard, John Brogden, Philip Ruddock, Bronwyn Bishop, Marise Payne and at least two-thirds of John Fahey's Cabinet cut their political teeth in the Young Liberals and the current president, Tony Chappel, said the organisation has a healthy 2,000 members. Chappel admitted it can be difficult for fledgling Liberals to balance party involvement and career.
Labor has a structure in place that allows people to work on the job.
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