21-05-2025
Australian news and politics live: Former Nationals leader, Ian Sinclair, says coalition will be mended
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The man who led the Nationals during its last divorce from the Liberals believes the coalition partners will eventually reunite.
Ian Sinclair was leader of the Nationals during the coalition's five-month split in 1987, which was triggered by then-Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's push to enter federal parliament.
The 'Joh for Canberra' campaign drove a wedge through conservative politics and collapsed without widespread support.
Mr Sinclair is confident the latest trial separation will not last forever, saying a split after an election wasn't unusual and issues would eventually be resolved.
'It has happened before and will happen again,' the 95-year-old told AAP.
'It's quite a healthy thing.'
Party leader David Littleproud pulled the Nationals out of the coalition after Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said she couldn't commit to four policy demands, including keeping nuclear power as part of an energy policy.
New South Wales has an ongoing flood crisis and the Liberals and Nationals continue to ponder over their new structures post separation.
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