The Nationals have officially broken away from the Liberal Party after coalition negotiations failed, ending a long-standing political alliance that has shaped Australian politics for nearly a century.
Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the decision at Parliament House, calling it one of the most difficult political choices of his career. He emphasized that while the Nationals would continue to work constructively with the Liberals, they would not re-enter a formal coalition agreement at this time.
“The National Party will sit independently on principle,” he said, citing a desire to reclaim key policy areas that directly impact regional communities.
Breakdown Over Key Policies
The Nationals’ decision follows their strong performance in the federal election, where they held on to most of their lower house seats. In contrast, the Liberals lost ground, prompting internal reflection.
Littleproud met with new Liberal leader Sussan Ley in Albury last week. Discussions failed to bridge the gap on several issues, including continued support for nuclear energy, the creation of a Regional Australia Future Fund, and granting divestiture powers to regulate supermarkets.
The two sides also disagreed on the structure of opposition collaboration. Ley had proposed a joint shadow ministry with separate party room policy development, but the Nationals rejected the plan. One major sticking point was the Nationals’ refusal to commit to traditional shadow cabinet solidarity, which would have required them to publicly support all joint policies.
“I remain a committed coalitionist,” Ley said, expressing disappointment at the outcome while noting that she would soon announce a Liberal-only shadow cabinet.
A Historic Shift in Parliament
While the separation marks a significant change, Littleproud left the door open to a future agreement, saying he hopes to restore the relationship before the next federal election. However, he also confirmed the Nationals are prepared to contest the election independently if necessary.
He described the move as an opportunity for the Liberals to “rediscover themselves” without the influence of the Nationals.
Former party leader Michael McCormack said it was unclear whether the parties would run candidates against each other in the next election, adding, “Three years is an eternity in politics — there’s still time to repair this.”
Despite losing access to opposition cabinet roles and the associated pay increases, Deputy Nationals Leader Kevin Hogan said the decision was made without concern for titles or financial perks.
Fallout and Future Prospects
ABC election analyst Antony Green pointed out that neither party could realistically form government without the support of the other. Coalition splits have occurred in the past — most notably in 1987 — but the two parties have historically reconciled.
Littleproud dismissed speculation that the Nationals would try to challenge Liberal-held seats, including Sussan Ley’s, saying, “We respect the roles they play.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers took aim at the opposition, claiming the split reflected ongoing dysfunction: “They tried to divide Australians during the campaign and ended up dividing themselves.”
