'Publish or perish': Liberals launch website to lure swing voters

The prime minister sought to drive home the importance of digital communications for his party as the Liberals launched a new website to bring their message back on track.

Newly elected Liberal Party Federal Director Andrew Hirst, (centre), shakes hands with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith, (left) and Minister f Source: AAP

Speaking at the party's federal council meeting on Saturday - where the new Liberal Party website 'The Fair Go' was launched - Malcolm Turnbull highlighted both the opportunities and pitfalls of rapid advances in communication technology.

"We live in a world characterised by change at a pace and scale unprecedented in human history. It is in large part driven by technology," Mr Turnbull said.

He said smartphones and social media messaging platforms had revolutionised how politicians engaged with voters, and held Facebook, which "I hope all of us are using", up as an example.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Source: AAP

Facebook was necessary "for strong political and effective communication, getting around the mainstream media and making sure our message gets direct to our supporters," he said.

But the prime minister also said the internet could not be an ungoverned space.

"We cannot allow terrorists and extremists to use the internet and the big social media messaging platforms ... to spread their poison," he said.

The issue will be raised at the next meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence agencies to be attended by Attorney-General George Brandis later this month.

The Five Eyes countries include Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Outgoing acting Liberal party director Andrew Bragg used his final speech to introduce the website.

Outgoing Liberal Party federal director Andrew Bragg Source: AAP

"It is designed to support the coalition's overarching narrative into social platforms and arm supporters with bottom up perspectives on public policy issues," Mr Bragg said.

He said undecided voters and swing voters would be targeted.

"Publish or perish must be our credo," Mr Bragg said.

It is in response to a review of the 2016 election campaign by former trade minister Andrew Robb.

Mr Robb found Liberal Party campaign messaging struggled to compete with the greater funding and effectiveness of Labor Party and progressive group platforms.

At Saturday's federal council meeting, Andrew Bragg said: "Publish or perish must be our credo."

Mr Bragg is due to be replaced by long-time Liberal Party staffer Andrew Hirst.