Cowboy egos threatening stability, good governance

After the years of chaos that followed Labor’s rolling of Kevin Rudd in his first term as prime minister in 2010, voters across the political spectrum hoped that the current parliament would at least provide stability. Both sides, it was reasonable to assume when Scott Morrison won in May last year, had learned from the chaos, That is, infighting and leadership instability are no foundation for good governance. Nine months on, the Morrison government is being undermined from within, by the dissent and leadership chaos wracking its junior Coalition partner. Far from centring on conflicting policy principles, the aggro tearing the Nationals apart is primarily about personal animosities, ambition and greed. This makes it all the more shameful, especially when the party’s rural and regional base has been struggling with the ravages of long-term drought followed by bushfires and now the coronavirus impact on exports.

It is reasonable to question what Nationals MPs agitating against Michael McCormack want — aside from personal advancement. ­ The main policy concern, especially among Queensland members — support for a new coal-fired power station — has been met, for now, with the Morrison government funding a $4m feasibility study for Shine Energy’s proposed project in Collinsville, about halfway between Townsville and Mackay. Last week’s leadership challenge by former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has left federal cabinet without its strongest advocate for Queensland, northern Australia and so-called “high-efficiency, low-emissions’’ (HELE) coal-fired power. Former resources minister Matt Canavan stood aside when he backed Mr Joyce. Senator Canavan also cited his failure to declare his link to the North Queensland Cowboys at the time they gained a loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

The Nationals’ problems deepened on Monday when Mr McCormack, and to a lesser extent Mr Morrison, were embarrassed on the floor of the House of Representatives when the Coalition’s nomination for deputy speaker, Victorian Nationals MP Damian Drum, was defeated 75 votes to 67 by Queensland Nationals MP Llew O’Brien. Mr O’Brien promptly resigned from the Nationals but will still sit in the Coalition partyroom. Mr O’Brien’s fellow Queenslander, Ken O’Dowd, rubbed salt into Mr McCormack’s wounds, describing the vote as a “warning shot” for the leader.

Such goading of more formidable past Nationals leaders such as Doug Anthony, Tim Fischer and John Anderson would’ve been unthinkable. For decades, the party was a bulwark of stability. Disagreements were decided in the privacy of the partyroom. Mr McCormack knows he is on notice and needs to cut through. He has pulled out of a two-day road safety summit in Stockholm next week to deal with the splits, which threaten to trigger broader Coalition disunity. He must strengthen his party’s performance in traditional strongholds, where its base is under threat from interlopers such as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Katter’s Australian Party and the Fishers and Shooters. In Queensland, the Nationals’ disunity could cost the LNP the chance to defeat the Palaszczuk government in October.

The Nationals must do more on drought and bushfire recovery, promoting regional investment, economic development and water management. During last year’s campaign, Mr McCormack promised a National Water Grid Authority to plan and manage water infrastructure, security and policy across the nation. The $100m organisation, established on October 1, needs to make an impact, sooner rather than later.

There is even a possibility of rebel Nationals joining Labor, the Greens, loathed in the bush, and crossbenchers to block legislation. Such an escalation of mistrust would seriously damage the government. In an attempt to arrest the slide, Mr Morrison is opting for restrained reconciliation. Josh Frydenberg joked on Tuesday that the Coalition’s broad church might need a couple more pews. But if those driving the internecine war insist on putting ego before good governance and are not reined in, they will sorely test voters’ tolerance. As Simon Benson writes on Wednesday, time is on Mr Morrison’s side. But the Byzantine turf war is robbing him of clear air. Undermining stability for personal gain is the height of political folly and contrary to the national interest.