Nats fail to put best team forward

Remember the trouble Scott Morrison was in with lefties for “leaving Australia leaderless” during the bushfire emergencies? Well, he didn’t leave us leaderless; Nationals leader Michael McCormack was acting prime minister, but nobody seemed to notice. In politics transparency is a good thing, but invisibility means nobody rates you highly enough to care what you say. Now McCormack has been returned as Nationals leader, no doubt to keep a climate realist (Barnaby Joyce) far from decisions on water and power supplies.

I expect McCormack to remain invisible while the Nationals slide into obscurity. Meanwhile, they’re still wasting the talents of the best MP they’ve ever had.

Peter Campion, Tolga, Qld

Commonsense has just flown out of the Canberra window. It seems the Deputy Prime Minister, who did nothing during Scott Morrison’s Hawaii holiday, has managed to get away with it again. This unfortunate vote in retaining McCormack as leader has rendered the National Party irrelevant, paving the way for One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to take a greater hold of the regions. The Nationals have made a great mistake. Like him or loathe him, Barnaby Joyce gets things done, unlike the “invisible leader”.

Elizabeth Jobson, Tamborine Mtn, Qld

The National Party has failed to cross the finish line with a strong leader, but if leaked numbers are any indication Barnaby Joyce failed by a whisker. No doubt he will challenge again when circumstances are favourable.

The National Party not only needs a strong, colourful leader, but also a name-change back to “country”. The bush does not relate to “national”. Since 1975, I have asked hundreds of country people whether they would like the party to revert to its original name. Very few said no. Even the Labor Party has Country Labor.

The Nationals are doing it tough in the bush, with votes going to “other” parties and seats lost except in Queensland. It’s time for the party to step up and out and be recognised for the great country party it used to be.

Lesley Beckhouse, Queanbeyan, NSW

What a missed opportunity. The National Party continues to move forward with its head in the sand. In the two short years since Barnaby Joyce left the leadership the party has gone from a position of relevance to being almost invisible. Michael McCormack is an honest hard-working man who simply has no profile and a personality that does not allow a change in his profile.

Joyce is still incredibly popular with the public, who are forgiving of his mistakes as we all make mistakes. He and Matt Canavan would have been a formidable combination to make the Nats relevant again.

I suspect the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will be absolutely cockahoop with the result.

Ross Dillon, Maleny, Qld

How disappointing it must be for country folk to see the status quo diminished in the National Party, with their only true representative, in Matt Canavan, excluded from the ministry. This has been made even worse by the elevation of David Littleproud, who has caused them so much angst with the drought and Adani, being voted in as Deputy Leader.

One would have thought with his approach to the above issues, he would have better suited the Greens.

Surely it is time the Prime Minister instigated the same approach adopted in state politics in Queensland, where the joining of the parties has resulted in the formation of the Liberal National Party and party numbers don’t dictate who gets a ministry. When someone like Canavan, touted by many, including Labor insiders, as being future PM material, is overlooked because he has been honest, then one can only wonder at the future of the National Party.

J. Pritchard, Hervey Bay, Qld

The voters of New England returned Barnaby Joyce last year with an increased majority, while Matt Canavan is hugely well regarded in Queensland, the state pivotal to the Coalition retaining office. Both have cut-through against Greens-Labor, while the National Party would benefit overall from their cabinet experience and firepower. And they would show up some of the invisible Liberal frontbenchers.

Leadership puts the best team on the field, Michael McCormack, so bring them back.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW