7am RIP the Coalition
7 snips
May 21, 2025 
In this discussion, Jason Koutsoukis, a special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, unpacks the surprising split between the Liberals and Nationals. He highlights the tensions that led to the breakdown, including unmet policy demands and internal party strife. Koutsoukis also examines what this means for the future of Australian politics, emphasizing the shifting power dynamics and the Nationals' diminished status. The conversation delves into the challenges both parties face, including climate commitments and electoral viability.
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Nationals' Five Major Demands
- The Nationals demanded five guarantees including nuclear power support, supermarket divestiture, a $20 billion regional fund, baseline bush telecoms, and shadow cabinet solidarity.
- The Liberals rejected these, especially the conscience vote on net zero emissions policy, marking a major negotiation impasse.
Personal Hardship Amid Talks
- Susan Lee's mother was in palliative care and passed away during negotiations, adding personal difficulty.
- David Littleproud gave Susan Lee only 30 minutes notice before announcing the coalition breakup to the press.
Power Dynamics Post-Election
- Nationals felt empowered after election results while Liberals were annoyed and saw Nationals as overreaching.
- Liberals view Nationals as a small party hindering urban voter appeal and policy progress, feeling the tail has wagged the dog.