The Coalition are officially back together.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud have reached a final agreement over four key policies after a week of meetings.
‘The gang’s back together,’ Daily Mail Australia political editor Peter Van Onselen said.
‘After weeks of turmoil, Sussan Ley and David Littleproud have struck a final deal to paper over the cracks in their political union.
‘Now Ley can call her colleagues and start offering them frontbench positions so that the opposition’s shadow ministry can be announced sooner rather than later.’
It is understood a press conference will be held later today to announce the reunification and possibly the locked in front bench portfolios.
On this morning’s breakfast TV, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie was forced to defend her Littleproud’s handling of the messy situation after one of her parliamentary colleagues suggested he had been less than truthful with the party room during the process.
‘Littleproud has secured an enlarged frontbench team for the junior coalition partner – given its better performance at the election compared with the gutted Liberals,’ Van Onselen said.
‘He’s also won agreement for in principle policy positions the Nats party room want the Coalition to stick with, including ending the moratorium on nuclear power and continuing to pursue the potential break up of the big super markets.
‘Whatever you think of the policies the Nats want to remain Coalition policy, the minor party has certainly flexed its muscle within the opposition team.
‘Equally, Ley showed a cool head working to avoid a formal break up.’
Nationals leader David Littleproud (pictured alongise Nationals Deputy Leader Kevin Hogan and Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie)
