National Party splits from the Coalition

Newly re-elected Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has said the National Party will stand by the interests of regional Australia following the announcement of the party splitting from the Coalition. Last week the National Party announced it would be ending the coalition with the Liberal Party ending the agreement, a decision Mr McCormack said the Party didn't make 'lightly'. "The Nationals made the tough decision not to enter into a Federal Coalition agreement with the Liberal Party," Mr McCormack said. "This is not a decision that the Nationals have reached lightly but is one that is necessary to put the interest of regional Australians first." Mr McCormack said he was proud that all National held electorates were re-elected at the recent election and that for the past six elections the party has not lost a seat. "The Nationals has always stood firm on its principles, and at the last election, because of our steadfast commitment to our electorates we retained all of our seats in the House of Representatives, including transitioning three seats to new Members of Parliament," he said. "Indeed, for six elections in a row now the Nationals have not lost a seat in the House of Representatives at a Federal Election. "In fact, the Nationals received a more than three percent swing in Riverina, accounting for the boundary redistribution and despite the record number of candidates (13). "That is because the Nationals work hard and represent the commonsense policies that are needed to deliver the quality of life improvements Australians need and deserve." According to Mr McCormack during coalition discussions, the Nationals made it clear their policies, which he said had been endorsed by their electorates, needed to be retained. "Regional Australians as well as those living in the big cities will benefit from the Nationals plan to establish a $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund to pay a $1 billion dividend each year to support regional projects, healthcare and infrastructure; legislate divestiture powers to ensure supermarkets cannot take advantage of farmers and consumers; adopt nuclear energy as a sensible and stable alternative to Labor's flawed and rushed renewable energy plan which is tearing up prime farmland and dividing regional communities; and require a Universal Service Obligation for telecommunications providers to ensure regional Australians have phone reception, no matter their provider," Mr McCormack said. "These policies that regional Australians are demanding, however, unfortunately, at this point in time, the Liberal Party was unable to accept them." According to Mr McCormack discussions were engaged in a 'respectful and sincere way.' "Our offer was entirely reasonable and most of the aforementioned policies had already been accepted by the Liberal Party prior to the election," he said. "As the Nationals will never compromise in its advocacy for regional Australians, the party room has decided spending time apart is the right course of action." Mr McCormack said the party is open to renegotiating with the Liberals when they are in a position to do so. "We understand the Liberals need time to rebuild and to find what they stand for after the devastating defeat," Mr McCormack said. "I hope this time apart will help them achieve this. "As for the Nationals, we will get on with advocating for our constituents, as we have done for more than 100 years. "When the Liberals are in a position to renegotiate an agreement and acknowledge the enormous value the Nationals bring to a coalition, we will be ready to discuss."