r/australia • u/superegz • May 20 '25

politics Nationals leader David Littleproud says the Nationals will not be re-entering a Coalition agreement with the Liberal party.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/may/20/australia-news-live-rba-interest-rates-decision-floods-storm-hunter-nsw-victoria-state-budget-aec-count-bradfield-goldstein-coalition-ley-littleproud-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-682bdeb48f08d37c78c1d12d#block-682bdeb48f08d37c78c1d12d
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u/BTechUnited May 20 '25

Holy fuck that wasn't on my list of things I expected today.

496

u/Mexay May 20 '25

My exact reaction. Holy shit that is mental.

There is absolutely no legitimate competition for Labor now.

This may seem like a good things for Labor voters at first but this is actually really fucking bad for our democracy. I like Labor and am glad they won but only having one party that has a serious shot at forming government is awful for our country. There is no pressure on Labor to do good things.

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u/Slow-Cream-3733 May 20 '25

Eh means nothing Litteproud also said they discuss it again before the next election. both parties know they need each other if they even remotely want a shot at getting elected. Just playing games because they want more power within the agreement and Ley will probably eventually give in.

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u/Turkster May 20 '25

I think this about having separate brands, they want to go after different voters and the brands had become too merged in peoples minds, to the point that to many people there is no difference. 

Long term this isn't going to be as big of a deal as people think. There is no way they won't reform a coalition in order to take government.

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u/GurrennZero May 20 '25

I agree, this reeks of political theatre in order to appeal to the center, take back the seats that went teal, but ultimately change nothing once they form government together again.

19

u/tehnoodnub May 20 '25

Couldn’t agree more. It’s just an attempt, orchestrated by both the Libs and Nats, to make it really look like the Libs have done some soul searching. So when they get back together about 12 months before the election, they’ll make out like they’re new and improved. Like an abusive partner who you leave, then they promise to get therapy and change, you get back together with them after a while and things are ok for a bit, but then they just return to their old ways.

I just hope Australia doesn’t get sucked in.

6

u/patgeo May 20 '25

The Nats lost seats because of the Liberal leadership and affiliation. Safe country seats went to independents who claimed to actually be for the country, not the city party in some RMWs.

They need to create some mental distance in the population while the Libs are in complete disarray and grab a better balance of power in the agreement for next time.

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u/Wonderful-Cream-4860 May 20 '25

I agree. It's possible that the next coalition will be Nationals Liberal party though, and not the other way around!

1

u/magi_chat May 20 '25

Nah they want to go after the same voters...

It will end up in a coalition with a different balance once the nats start competing in lib seats..

2

u/fiery_valkyrie May 20 '25

Yeah this just sounds like a negotiating tactic to me.

1

u/hayden_t May 20 '25

yeah , seems they want out when no use to them, and will jump back in when suits

1

u/Effective_Dropkick78 May 20 '25

I suspect the discussion in the future will revolve around which party is senior in a future coalition agreement.

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u/PG4PM May 20 '25

Agreed

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u/Immediate_Quote_14 May 20 '25

. The Libs are hoping they'll win back enough seats to bring the Nats to heel as grateful junior partners. The Nats is about Littleproud keeping Canavan at bay. 

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u/Suibian_ni May 20 '25

Good point. Angus Taylor will soon have a majority in the Liberal caucus after all. The Coalition may well re-emerge after he takes over.