Nationals Split From Coalition

May 20, 2025

Nationals Leader David Littleproud announced on Tuesday that his party will not join a formal Coalition with the Liberal Party in Federal Parliament.

However, “the door remained open” to rejoining the Coalition in future.

The Member for Maranoa said the Nationals would sit alone “on a principled basis”.

He said the decision was made because the Nationals wanted to maintain their “hard-fought wins” to “shape the lives of regional Australians for the better”.

Mr Littleproud said the Nationals could not get agreement about nuclear energy being part of a future energy grid or about the proposed $20 billion “Regional Australia Future Fund“.

“We’re making a principled position about not what we’re prepared to give up on, but to build on what we achieved and to move forward,” Mr Littleproud told reporters.

“So, it’s with great disappointment that I announce that we’re not going to form part of that Coalition.”

He said the decision had the full support of his party room.

The announcement followed discussions with the Liberal Party over formalising a new Coalition agreement.

Ironically, Mr Littleproud is a member of the LNP – Liberal National Party – in Queensland.

LNP members can choose to sit with either the Liberal or the Nationals party rooms in Canberra.

For example, LNP Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien sits with the Nationals, while his fellow MP Ted O’Brien – the LNP Member for the adjoining seat of Fairfax – sits with the Liberals.

The Nationals’ split from the Federal Coalition will not affect the LNP party structure in Queensland however it will exclude Nationals MPs from Shadow Ministry positions.

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Statement from Mr Littleproud’s office:

After careful consideration, The Nationals have agreed that now is not the right time to enter a federal Coalition Agreement with the Liberal Party.

During the last term of Parliament, The Nationals fought hard for a package of sensible and important policies that will benefit regional Australia and the future of our nation. These were adopted as Coalition policies and were strongly supported by local communities.

Following discussions with the Leader of the Liberal Party, we do not have the assurance we need that these policies will be honoured in a future Coalition Agreement.

The Nationals cannot in good conscience walk away from our commitments to regional Australia.

We will not walk away from the $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund, which would provide up to $1 billion extra funding every year for regional projects, from improving access to better health, child and aged care, through to fixing local roads and building new sporting facilities.

We will not walk away from ‘big stick’ divestiture competition laws that keep the big supermarkets honest and deliver fairer prices for farmers at the farmgate and families at the checkout.

We will not walk away from an improved Universal Service Obligation for communications, forcing a better minimum standard for regional mobile and internet access.

We will not walk away from the potential of nuclear power as a necessary element of a balanced energy mix that secures Australia’s energy security.

The Nationals’ Party Room does not take this decision lightly.

It is made without malice. When the Liberal Party is ready, our door will be open. We will always stand up for regional Australians and the policies that will take our nation forward.

[UPDATED]