Nationals have second thoughts on break-up
Less than a week after announcing the Nationals’ split from the Liberals, leader David Littleproud expects the Coalition will be reunited within days.
A resolution is possible with the Nationals party room expected to meet on Monday or Tuesday, after it and the Liberals pressed pause on their political split, allowing reunion talks to continue.
Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week’s events had changed minds.
“Common sense would dictate that all will be well,” he said.
“But I can’t guarantee what my colleagues have got to say.”
The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition’s decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage.
You might like
But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review.
The Nationals’ decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time.
The Liberals have since provided “in-principle” support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days.
McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste.
Stay informed, daily
“That’s probably why things went awry,” he said.
“Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day.”
Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership.
He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050.
His deputy, Kevin Hogan, maintained any disputes over the policy were “settled years ago” and that it was not up for review.
However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble.
“I’m not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero,” McCormack said.
The party had signed on to the policy under different circumstances.
At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, McCormack said.
