Nationals MP Seeks Public Input on Coalition Future
The Australian Coalition faces ongoing turmoil as a Nationals MP turns to supporters for guidance on backing Sussan Ley as Opposition leader and reforming the alliance. Member for Mallee Anne Webster distributed a brief online survey to her constituents over the weekend as politicians returned to Canberra.
The anonymous SurveyMonkey questionnaire poses a single question: ‘What’s the right path for the Nationals from here?’ Respondents choose from three options: rejoin the Coalition with Sussan Ley leading the Liberal Party, return to the Coalition after the Liberals select a new leader, or stay separate temporarily but reunite before the next election.
Context of the Coalition Divide
In her accompanying email, Webster expresses gratitude for feedback on the Nationals’ recent decision to break ranks and oppose Labor’s gun reform and hate speech legislation following the Bondi attack. ‘Thank you for the many emails I’ve received regarding the stance we as the Nationals took on the recent gun reform and ‘hate speech’ legislation. We stood against both on principle,’ she writes. ‘As we return to Canberra, I am reaching out to hear your thoughts about the future of the Coalition. I’d appreciate you taking 30 seconds to complete a one-question survey.’
This outreach contrasts with Webster’s earlier remarks on Sky News, where she emphasized the Nationals’ reluctance to influence Liberal leadership. ‘I know that the Liberals would take great joy in the Nationals telling them who should lead their party,’ she stated. ‘We’re not going to do that. That is absolutely forbidden fruit, so to speak. I don’t think you’ll find a National Party member who’s prepared to get into that whirlpool.’
Polling Challenges and Leadership Tensions
The Coalition struggles in recent polls, with the latest Newspoll indicating that minor party One Nation has surpassed them in first-preference votes. Nationals leader David Littleproud previously declared his party would not rejoin unless Ley steps down as Liberal leader, though he later retracted the comment. The alliance remains unstable.
Ley issued a firm deadline on Friday, requiring the Nationals to recommit by February 9 or face a permanent split. ‘With several upcoming parliamentary sittings, including Senate Estimates, the Liberal Leadership Group has met and agreed that the finalisation of longer term shadow ministerial arrangements is also required,’ Ley announced in a statement. ‘It is intended that these acting arrangements cease before the second February sitting week commences, when I appoint a further six parliamentarians to serve in the Shadow Cabinet and two in the outer Shadow Ministry, on an ongoing basis.’
Temporary Shadow Ministry Shifts
Following the Nationals’ mass exit from the Coalition over disagreements on the post-Bondi legislation, Ley temporarily reassigned shadow roles previously held by Nationals MPs to Liberal members. Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash now oversees trade, Health Minister Anne Ruston manages agriculture, and Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan handles resources.
Additional appointments include James McGrath for infrastructure, Angus Taylor for veterans’ affairs, and Angie Bell for water management. Taylor positions himself as a more traditional conservative option for Liberal leadership.
Ley asserts confidence in her party’s depth. ‘There is enormous talent in the parliamentary Liberal Party, and my party room is more than capable of permanently fulfilling each and every one of those roles,’ she stated. The roles will become permanent if the Nationals do not reverse course by the deadline.
