Nationals leader David Littleproud and Liberal leader Sussan Ley to meet for further Coalition talks

After a brief separation the Liberals and Nationals are on track to reunite pending the rural party’s acceptance of “in principle” support for their key demands. See what they want.

After a brief separation the Liberals and Nationals are on track to reunite pending the rural party’s acceptance of “in principle” support for their key demands like nuclear energy and powers to break up supermarkets.

Nationals leader David Littleproud and Liberal leader Sussan Ley will meet on Monday as part of a renewed attempt to hash out a Coalition agreement, with four policy positions the only remaining obstacles to the two sides forming a deal.

Nationals leader David Littleproud says he is ‘relaxed’ about his position. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Two days after the Nationals sensationally quit the Coalition last week, Mr Littleproud hit “pause” on plans to walk away from the Liberals to give Ms Ley time to work through his party’s demands with her colleagues.

Ms Ley will be presenting Mr Littleproud with the Liberals’ counter offer to the Nationals’ request the Coalition agreement lock in support for nuclear, divestiture powers to break up the big supermarkets, a $20 billion regional fund and expansion of mobile coverage in the bush.

At an urgent meeting on Friday, the Liberals had agreed to support the ideas “in principle,” provided extra “context” was added to the policies.

This included that the $20bn fund be distributed fairly across all regional electorates, as well as making divestiture a “last resort” to tackle anti-competitive behaviour by supermarket giants.

All final policy positions would also still require shadow cabinet sign off.

Sources familiar with negotiations said they believed a Coalition agreement was imminent, with Ms Ley then likely to announce her shadow ministry shortly afterwards.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley is expected to unveil her shadow ministry this week after a Coalition deal is finalised. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien is expected to take on the treasury portfolio, a position previously held by Ms Ley’s leadership rival Angus Taylor.

Supporters of Mr Taylor said if he was not given the treasury role, it would be “unacceptable” for Ms Ley to offer anything other than foreign affairs or defence as an alternative.

The Nationals are in line to receive six shadow cabinet positions and two outer ministry roles.

Meanwhile, Mr Littleproud on Sunday declared he was “relaxed” about his position despite some colleagues arguing the drama had damaged his leadership.

“The vast majority of my party room decided to leave the Coalition. I enacted what was directed,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News.

Former leader and opponent of the split, Michael McCormack last week pointedly refused to rule out a future tilt, but Nationals sources said at this stage no one had the numbers to take on Mr Littleproud.

Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan said Mr Littleproud should “absolutely” remain leader.

Mr Hogan also played down the likelihood of the Coalition reopening the debate about supporting net zero emissions by 2050, saying this had been “settled years ago”.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and Senator Matt Canavan are among those who have publicly questioned net zero, but Mr Hogan said the “policy is as we took to the election”.

Originally published as Nationals leader David Littleproud and Liberal leader Sussan Ley to meet for further Coalition talks