Senior Libs call on Mark Speakman to walk back Coalition split threats

As relations between the NSW Nationals and Liberals continue to disintegrate, senior Liberals have called on the opposition leader to walk away from Coalition split threats.

Opposition leader Mark Speakman, left, the now-deleted Wes Fang post, bottom right, and Nationals leader Dugald Saunders. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

Senior Liberals have warned NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman to “walk back” threats of scrapping the Coalition over the behaviour of a junior Nationals shadow minister.

Senior Liberal powerbroker Anthony Roberts has urged both his own party’s leadership and the Nationals to rethink threats to sever the Coalition, in a smack down on the tough talk threatening the parties’ agreement.

“You don’t blow up a Coalition agreement over something like this,” Mr Roberts, who holds the title of the father of the House as the longest-serving lower house MP, said.

“This is going to do a lot more damage than good.”

“Coalition agreements are easier to break than create.

“I’m telling everyone to walk back from this … as someone who has seen plenty of Coalition agreements and arguments, this is by far not the worst – this is little athletics compared to the Olympics when it comes to Coalition outbursts that I’ve seen.

“I think everyone needs to be a little more considered before the talk starts about walking away from an incredibly successful Coalition which has served the NSW people well for generations.”

Senior Liberals have warned NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman to “walk back” threats of scrapping the Coalition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The comments come after Liberal MPs were summoned via a text message sent yesterday evening, to an urgent party room meeting on Tuesday morning after Nationals leader Dugald Saunders openly defied the Liberal leader.

Mr Speakman released a statement on Friday saying public statements made by National upper house MP Wes Fang criticising the Liberal Party and its leadership, made his positions as a shadow assistant minister “untenable”.

A screenshot of Nationals MP’s Wes Fang’s since-deleted post slamming Liberal leader Mark Speakman. Photo: supplied

It is understood Mr Speakman spoke with Mr Saunders four times before releasing the statement, asking the Nationals leader to remove Mr Fang himself.

In an act of defiance, Mr Saunders rejected Mr Speakman’s statement saying the Liberals did not have the power to remove a National from the shadow frontbench.

Despite Mr Saunders’ protestations, Nationals MP Wes Fang officially had his shadow portfolios stripped on Monday morning, settling debate as to whether Mr Speakman had the power to sack him.

Wes Fang MLC has been sacked from his shadow portfolios by Opposition leader Mark Speakman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Mr Fang’s shadow positions were removed from the parliamentary website after Mr Speakman wrote to the parliamentary clerk advising of his authorisation to sack the Nationals MP. In an email seen by The Daily Telegraph, the Legislative Council clerk said, Mr Speakman’s advice was “sufficient” to authorise changes to the website.

Relations continued to break down on Monday, after the Nationals leader sent Mr Speakman’s office a draft media statement, calling for calm and dispelling fears of a Coalition split. The draft statement suggested Mr Speakman reiterate that he would “work collaboratively” with the Nationals in the future.

Mr Speakman’s office refused to accept or release the drafted media statement.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman with Nationals leader Dugald Saunders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

It is understood Mr Speakman expects the Nationals to stand down on the issue and accept Mr Fang’s removal from the shadow portfolio. If they refuse to do so by Tuesday morning, he would push for a Coalition split.

Facing a stalemate, senior Liberals are divided on how Mr Speakman should proceed with the issue.

Senior Liberal MP Anthony Roberts has warned both parties to “walk back” Coalition split threats.

Like Anthony Roberts, many other senior Liberals do not want to see the Coalition shattered.

One senior Liberal source said Mr Speakman had no choice but to threaten the Nationals with a split.

“As publicly awkward as this is for the Coalition, you can’t have a person with a senior role question his (Speakman’s) leadership – it’s a sackable offence,” the source said.

“This is not an over-reaction, he would have looked weak if he didn’t react after Wes attacked him personally.”

The Liberal MP said fractures in the Coalition had begun to appear behind the scenes after they lost the election, with Wes Fang’s comments acting as the straw that broke the camel’s back. Yet the source said it was unlikely the Nationals would throw away the Coalition, which would mean moving to the crossbench.

“It seems insane to me that for Wes Fang, who is a pariah in the parliament, the Nats are going to give up all their portfolios and go over to the cross bench. Give up their travel allowances,” the Liberal MP said.

“A Coalition split is like having a marriage breakdown, you’re not getting divorced but you go and have some respite while you sort your stuff out, then they can come back and renegotiate the Coalition for the next election.”

Another Liberal frontbencher said Mr Speakman “has the support of his colleagues who are prepared” to sever the relationship with the Nationals if their issues can’t be resolved.

“(Fang’s) behaviour is unacceptable – the fact there was no discipline around it shows how finely balanced the Nats leadership is,” the source said.

“I think it’s fair to say the Nats and Libs have a great relationship at large … but the fact so much has been put at stake to protect a rogue and ill-disciplined MLC no one had ever heard of is very telling.”

Other Liberal MPs argued the proposition of a split raised questions about Mr Speakman’s leadership.

One senior Liberal MP said the opposition leader had “boxed himself into a corner”.

“Speakman keeps spouting the ideals of unity, discipline and focus, none of this exemplifies those things,” the source said.

“Some people might say he’s stuffed either way – if he splits the Coalition, he’s not a leader that can keep his side together, but then if he doesn’t he’s a weak leader who lets Wes Fang walk all over him.

“This is not a strategic play from Mark, it is too stupid to actually be strategic.”