They weren’t social liberals but they were still liberals nonetheless, and their position on the spectrum was closer to where most liberals are internationally, the centre-right. Take a look at Australia and Britain’s liberals for example. Only in the US are liberals considered to be the left wing because there’s only 2 viable options and actual leftists in the US who vote have to settle with being in the same party as liberals rather than having their own party, which the fptp voting system would ensure would fail. US media has not helped by misrepresenting the definition for decades.

The federal party is run by social liberals, which are centrist.