Coalition ‘rebellion’ the key to Nationals victory

A Queensland Nationals MP says the party’s more rebellious northern faction is providing a blueprint for election victory.

MP for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said the Queensland Nationals would succeed at the election because they have been ‘strong’. Picture: Lachie Millard

A Queensland Nationals MP says the party’s more rebellious northern faction is providing a blueprint for election victory as the federal members of the regional party met for the first time since a backlash in its NSW heartlands.

MP for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said the Queensland Nationals would succeed at the election because they have been “strong” and dragged the Liberals towards their positions on the banking royal commission, a federal ICAC and tough action on supermarkets.

His comments urging a more independent approach come as the federal Nationals met for the first time since a tough NSW state election campaign where they lost two seats to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

“The Queensland Nationals have been a strong and influential group within the junior partner of the Coalition government,” Mr O’Brien said.

“They brought about the Royal Commission into Banking and Financial Services, a process to set up a Commonwealth Integrity Commission, they applied significant pressure on Coles and Woolworths to break the $1-a-litre milk war.

“The Queensland Nationals have been very vocal about a sensible and reliable mix of energy sources, which has resulted in a $10 million feasibility study on coal-fired power in Queensland.

“Often fighting against the tide on these issues demonstrates to their constituency the Queensland Nationals are standing up for their people, regardless of the broader Canberra position.”

The Nationals partyroom meeting on Monday night was described by one MP as “subdued” as they discussed the NSW state election results, which were largely blamed on local issues.

Despite losing two seats, the Nationals actually faced a swing of only 0.9 per cent in the state election last fortnight, only 0.1 per cent more than the swing suffered by NSW Labor.

One Victorian MP said the Nationals had been the victims of contradictory grievances over water in the NSW election, with voters in Murray, in the state’s south, blaming the Nationals for not being allocated sufficient water and voters in Barwon, in the northwest, blaming the party for allowing cotton farmers to access too much water.

“The water issues were completely the opposite in those two seats but they were both somehow the Nationals’ fault,” the MP said.

The MP said the NSW experience had highlighted the importance of running a strong local campaign with strong candidates.

“Do the work, go to everything, be positive and be seen and you’ve got a chance of holding your seat,” the MP said.