The National Party has announced it will not re-enter into a formal coalition with the Liberal Party, marking a major shift in a political partnership that has defined conservative politics in Australia for over a century.
Nationals leader David Littleproud made the announcement on Tuesday at Parliament House, calling it one of the “hardest political decisions” of his life.
Littleproud said the Nationals would sit independently “on a principle basis” and would continue to work constructively with the Liberals, without a formal agreement in place.
The decision follows a federal election result in which the Nationals held most of their seats while the Liberals suffered significant losses.
Key points of contention between the two parties included the future of nuclear energy policy, divestiture powers for supermarkets, and the creation of a Regional Australia Future Fund.
Despite the split, Littleproud said he remained hopeful the parties could strike a new deal before the next federal election in three years.
“They [the Liberals] are going on a journey of rediscovery,” he said of newly elected Liberal leader Sussan Ley. “This will provide them the opportunity to do that without the spectre of the National Party imposing their will.”
As a result of walking away from the coalition, Nationals MPs will lose their opposition shadow ministry positions.
Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan acknowledged the cost but remained optimistic: “We’ve all broken up in a relationship that’s been important to us… more often than not, you get back together.”
Source: ABC News
