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Full Story Is it really over? What does the Nationals' split from the Coalition mean for Australian politics?
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May 20, 2025 Tom McIlroy, Chief Political Correspondent for The Guardian, dives into the surprising split of the Nationals from their longtime coalition with the Liberals. He discusses the historic implications of this breakup and the driving factors behind it, such as climate policy disagreements and the call for more collaborative decision-making. McIlroy also analyzes how this shift could impact future political alliances, the Nationals' potential as a minor party, and what it means for the political landscape in Australia.
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Nationals-Liberals Split Over Policy
- The Nationals ended their 80-year coalition with the Liberals due to fundamental policy disagreements and negotiation impasses.
- This split may be temporary but substantially impacts the opposition's unity and electoral prospects.
Policy Guarantees Spark Split
- Nationals demanded guarantees on nuclear power, regional funding, supermarket divestiture, and bush telecommunications.
- Liberals refused, promising all policies remain open to party room review, blocking a coalition agreement.
Nationals Leverage and Election Impact
- Nationals performed better than Liberals in the election, gaining confidence in negotiations.
- Yet, their hardline stance and policy clashes led to a rare and impactful coalition break.