Is reunion even a good idea for the Liberals and the Nationals?
Updated ,first published
David Littleproud may have easily escaped Queensland MP Colin Boyce’s leadership challenge, but the feud between the warring Liberals and Nationals is far from over, although MPs from both parties say they really want to reunite.
The Liberals, including Jane Hume, Maria Kovacic, Dave Sharma and Andrew Bragg, and former National Party leader Michael McCormack, without a trace of irony, called on both Coalition parties to stop talking about themselves and focus on issues that matter to voters, such as the rising cost of living.
The National Party meeting, which started at 2pm and lasted several hours, left even some participants stunned; One MP later told this imprint: “The vote to shed was not accepted, we debated whether to reform or not. [the Coalition with the Liberal Party] and that’s it. “It was so weird, I wasted two hours of my life.”
There was a crack at the end of the day when Sussan Ley and Littleproud, who were clearly having difficulty working together, agreed to meet at 6pm on Monday evening to bring the two parties together following a second split in nine months. But then they agreed to continue talking. There is no real breakthrough.
However, at least some of the problems that caused the division between the parties remain. As long as Ley and Littleproud remain leaders of their respective parties, it is difficult to see a lasting solution.
Ley’s supporters argue he cannot accept the return to the shadow cabinet of Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald, the three National candidates who broke shadow cabinet solidarity two weeks ago and voted against the government’s hate speech laws.
If the Liberal leader welcomes these three rogue senators back into the shadow cabinet, it could further weaken his lead at a time when he is already being pursued by ambitious conservatives who want him to replace Defense spokesman Angus Taylor.
“I don’t think this is the best thing for him [Ley] “To allow Nats back into the shadow cabinet,” said a source familiar with Ley’s thinking.
“The moderates and those in the middle are seriously angry with the National Party and letting them back in would show weakness, just as the right is looking for every opportunity to claw back Sussan’s support.
“For each [Littleproud and Ley] “These are big risks, it’s about the other’s leadership now.”
Speaking to the ABC after the meeting, National Party executive Matt Canavan laid out the National Party’s position succinctly; The party should have been able to choose who it wanted in the ministry.
“If they are not welcome [McDonald, McKenzie and Cadell]None of us are welcome.”
In other words, the National Party has no say in who the Liberals put in the shadow cabinet, and vice versa.
On Monday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese compared the saga to an event. We Married at First Sight Liberal senator Bragg proposes long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives.
Whichever drama you prefer, it remains unclear whether it is possible for the parties to reunite in the long term under the two current leaders.
Meanwhile, the Albanian government is not held accountable.
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James Massola is the chief political commentator. He was previously national affairs editor and Southeast Asia correspondent. He won the Quill and Kennedy awards and was a Walkley finalist. Connect securely to Signal @jamesmassola.01Connect with: X or email.
