Liberal Macfarlane switches to Nationals because he missed out on ministry

THE Mal Brough affair isn’t the only problem facing the PM in his leadership transition, with a long-term ally defecting to another party.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reacts during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

A SPURNED long time ally of Malcolm Turnbull has taken a swipe at the Prime Minister by switching parties.

The Mal Brough affair today wasn’t the only internal problem facing the Prime Minister in his leadership transition, which until this week was going smoothly.

Mr Turnbull also has to deal with the defection of former supporter and Liberal minister Ian Macfarlane to the Nationals, where he is more likely to regain a port folio.

Mr Macfarlane, a Queenslander, stood by Mr Turnbull in his 2009 battle on climate change policy, which lost him the Liberal leadership to Tony Abbott. And he had backed him in the September bid for the prime ministership against Mr Abbott.

Former Liberal Party and now Nationals Party backbencher Ian Macfarlane. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch.

Special Minister of State Mal Brough Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch.

But Mr Turnbull did not include him in his ministry, a snub seen by some as a poor reward for the man who had been industry minister under Mr Abbott.

And it highlighted a broader resentment among regional Liberals that they are not better represented in the ministry.

Health Minister Sussan Ley is the only regional Liberal of cabinet rank.

“It seems you have to be city folk to get a ministry,” a Nationals observer said.

Mr Macfarlane has always identified himself with the bush, once saying: “There are more pairs of RM Williams boots in this office than anywhere else.”

The defection means the Nats, with the addition of Mr Macfarlane, could demand an extra minister under the frontbench equation contained in the Coalition agreement.

And the next ministerial vacancy might be that of troubled Special Minister of State Mal Brough.

This could feed the ambitions of the Nationals to win at least two extra seats at the election, scheduled for next year, when the Liberals are expected to lose a few MPs.

This would give the party a greater say in a returned Turnbull government.

Originally published as Liberal Macfarlane switches to Nationals because he missed out on ministry