Nationals exile Llew O’Brien returns ahead of reshuffle

Maverick LNP MP Llew O’Brien will return to the Nationals partyroom next week and join the push to support coal-fired power and cheaper energy.

Deputy Speaker Llew O'Brien. Picture: Gary Ramage

Maverick LNP MP Llew O’Brien will return to the Nationals partyroom next week and join the push to support coal-fired power and cheaper energy, 10 months after calling a leadership spill against Michael McCormack and quitting the country party.

The Deputy Speaker, who has sat in parliament as an LNP MP outside the Nationals partyroom, informed Scott Morrison and Mr McCormack on Thursday morning of his decision to rejoin the fold. Mr O’Brien, who credited deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud with playing a key role in his return, ruled out any fresh move against Mr McCormack.

“The party made a decision. And me returning to the party is hopefully going to contribute ­towards a stable government and strong policy. I won’t be walking back in and calling or agitating for a spill — the party has spoken,” Mr O’Brien told The Australian.

The Wide Bay MP’s return comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s ministerial reshuffle this month, which looms as a key test of Mr McCormack’s ability to maintain stability inside the Nationals partyroom. Senior figures from inside the Liberals and Nationals have told The Australian the Deputy Prime Minister must put his best team on the field ahead of an election, which could be held as early as late next year.

Following Barnaby Joyce’s failed leadership challenge in February, Mr McCormack rewarded his supporters with plum ministerial jobs and froze out his rivals.

A senior Nationals source said Mr McCormack — who picks the Nationals ministerial line-up — had an opportunity to offer an “olive branch” to disaffected colleagues. “There is too much experience and talent sitting on those backbenches — this is his chance to extend some goodwill to colleagues and put in place the strongest team ahead of the election,” the source said.

The Australian understands Mr McCormack’s decision to have no cabinet spots assigned to ­Nationals senators had left the government short of senior representation in the upper house. Former cabinet ministers Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan, as well as emerging talent including Susan McDonald, are considered options for promotion into the ministry or assistant ministry.

Mr McCormack told The Australian that all Nationals MPs, ­regardless of position, were “solely focused on regional Australians and their jobs, not our own”.

“My only focus at the moment is ensuring regional Australians come through the COVID-19 pandemic in the strongest position possible,” he said.

The Australian understands the Nationals wanted Mr O’Brien back in the partyroom to ensure that its ministerial representation, which is based on a quota system, was not compromised.

Another factor in his return to the Nationals partyroom is the push led by Senator Canavan to influence Coalition energy policy.

“Cheap, reliable energy both for industry and low socio-economic communities is Nationals bread and butter,” he said.

“There’s very different opinions on our energy direction in the Coalition. And I’m very much in the Matt Canavan camp when it comes to energy policy. I think post-COVID we need to (scrap the) ideology, have a look at what our national strengths are and capitalise on them.

“Coal and cheap energy should be one of our strengths. I feel that I’m best placed to fight for those ­issues back inside the Nats with Matt, Barnaby, David Gillespie and George (Christensen). David Littleproud is a guy with coal-fired power and gas in his electorate, and I’ve spoken at length with David about cheap energy.”

Mr O’Brien said Nationals representation in the upcoming ministerial reshuffle was the “leader’s pick”. “Whoever is leading the party, in conjunction with his deputy, gets to pick,” he said.

He said the Nationals should be looking at portfolios like energy and trade, which had previously been held by the country party.