Latest news with #JohforCanberra
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Former Nationals leader, Ian Sinclair, says coalition will be mended
Scroll down for all the latest posts. 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. Stay right here for all the latest news, views and opinion throughout the day.
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Shot across the bow': Nationals quitting Coalition is 'a warning shot' to Sussan Ley to get Liberal Party house in order
We have just witnessed an extraordinary day in Australian political history – the Liberal and National coalition splitting for the first time in nearly 40 years and only the third time since they came together in 1949. The first break was in 1972 after Gough Whitlam beat Billy McMahon. They came back together before the 1974 election And there were another four months in 1987 over the 'Joh for Canberra' campaign. Now, in some ways this could be good – but obviously, in the short term, it weakens conservative politics in this country. You have the crazy situation of the Albanese Labor government holding 94 seats and the Liberal opposition holding just 28 seats. Even though the Liberals and Nationals will still largely work in tandem, without a formal Coalition you have a huge government and a tiny opposition. It deprives the official opposition of experienced talent in the Nationals and it means Sussan Ley will have to construct her shadow ministry entirely from the Liberal party room which is diminished. Nationals leader David Littleproud gave Ms Ley half an hour's notice that he was going to kill the coalition agreement. The major reason for the split was that the Nats wanted a guarantee on policy positions: nuclear energy, forced divestiture of supermarkets, the $20 billion regional future fund and reliable mobile phone coverage in the regions. The problem with that is that Ms Ley has been explicit in not yet committing to a policy agenda. No policy, she has said, is on or off the agenda – the party must now argue about everything. Ms Ley proposed to Mr Littleproud that they form a shadow cabinet of both Liberal and National members, as is standard for the Coalition. Then both parties should go away, sort out their respective policy positions and come back to discuss. I can understand why the Nationals would be uncomfortable with that because even though Liberals and Nationals are allowed a conscience vote, members of the shadow cabinet are dutybound to support the Coalition's policy and leadership. If you don't yet have a cohesive policy plan, it's difficult to understand what you're signing up for. So the Nationals requested that any of their shadow cabinet members be given a free vote, which would allow them to oppose net zero, for instance, even if the Liberals stayed with the policy. But that kind of situation simply isn't tenable. You can't have different members of cabinet singing from separate hymn books otherwise there isn't much point in cabinet. So to some degree they've both been as unreasonable as each other and it will, in the short term at least, be a free kick to the government. But both Ms Ley and Mr Littleproud were clear that they are open to reforming the Coalition and the National's leader more or less said he wants to. He described it as a break-up to have some time apart. He even said Ms Ley could be the next prime minister. But the reality is she can never be prime minister without the Nationals. The Liberals aren't going to win another 50 seats in their own right and they never will. And this is why the split could be a good thing in the long term. The Liberals and the Nationals need each other. If the Libs ever want to have a Liberal prime minister again, they need a Coalition with the Nats. And if the Nationals want to exert rural and regional influence over national policy they need to join with someone who could help form government and at the moment that is only the Liberal Party. So they'll have to come back together as they have before. But this is a shot across the bow – a message from the Nationals to say the Liberals need to have a serious reckoning as a party. And in that assessment they are correct. By having a break in their relationship, 'having time apart to be better' as Mr Littleproud put it – and let's be honest, many of us have done that in our romantic relationships and friendships before – the Nationals are trying to force those fights, particularly when it comes to Net Zero. And their aim in that regard is noble. The Nats haven't lost a lower house seat at an election since 2007 so you can't argue that they don't have a blueprint for success. They also managed to turn Bendigo marginal, which has been held by Labor since 1998, with a 9.7 per cent swing. The Nationals believe in something, they're clear about it, and electorally it has worked for them. The last Liberal leader to deal with a Coalition breakup was John Howard during his first shot at prime minister. He told The Australian: 'I hope I don't need to remind followers of both parties of the terrible political consequences of the destruction of the Coalition in 1987 at the hands of the Queensland National Party.' 'I'm not likening it to this, but it is a guide to what happened when both parties think they can achieve more separately than together,' Mr Howard said. 'They can't.' And he's right. The Liberals need the Nationals now more than ever. Drop net zero, keep nuclear, and build a genuine alternative for government. Caleb Bond is the Host of The Sunday Showdown, Sundays at 7.00pm and co-host of The Late Debate Monday – Thursday at 10.00pm as well as a Contributor. Bond also writes a weekly opinion column for The Advertiser
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Party elder sure Nationals will mend coalition fences
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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said. 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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said. 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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said. 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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Party elder sure Nationals will mend coalition fences
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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Party elder sure Nationals will mend coalition fences
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. Ms Ley didn't reject the policies, but said she couldn't commit to anything before her party had a chance to have an open discussion about policy after a massive election defeat on May 3. Mr Littleproud and Ms Ley say their doors are open for renegotiating a coalition. But Liberal sources believe the Nationals weren't serious about signing a deal as they pushed for a demand they knew couldn't be met. This also included Mr Littleproud becoming deputy opposition leader rather than the Liberals' second-in-command. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the policy impasse was the only thing her party room considered when deciding to leave. But she tiptoed around whether a demand had been made for Nationals in shadow cabinet to vote against coalition policy. Members of shadow cabinet - made up of both Liberals and Nationals when the coalition are in opposition - must vote in line with determined policy positions to show solidarity. Asked if Mr Littleproud could have inserted the clause in his list of demands, Senator McKenzie told the ABC's 7.30 program, "there are a lot of conversations about what might be part of a broader coalition agreement if we could get past the first gate". But a spokesman for Ms Ley said it wasn't correct to suggest cabinet solidarity wasn't an issue. "We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours," he said, although the letter hasn't been released publicly. Senator McKenzie acknowledged a consequence of the split would be her Senate spot was at risk at the 2028 election as the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals in some states, including her home of Victoria. The same is true for Nationals senator Ross Cadell in NSW. Without a combined vote, the Nationals could struggle to get the quotas needed in each state to retain their seats when they don't run candidates in metropolitan areas. "Bearing in mind that those decisions and those negotiations are part of our state bodies ... we were all cognisant of the risks and made our decision, irrespective," Senator McKenzie said.
