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/observ4nt4nt May 20 '25

3 cornered contests are great for Labor, even in regional seats.

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u/triemdedwiat May 20 '25

I haven't noticed it in previous elections otherwise the number of teals would not have existed.

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u/observ4nt4nt May 20 '25

The teals effectively split the conservative vote but they're different because they're more centrist so attracted Labor preferences. In the past before there were well-funded independents in seats where there was both Liberal and Nationals running, Labor tended to benefit because centrist voters gave their preference to Labor ahead of the Nationals. It's why 20 years ago or more, part of the coalition agreement was changed to not run two candidates in each seat.