Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says The Nationals will continue fighting for Mallee and regional Australia by standing alone, for a time, from the Liberal Party of Australia outside of a coalition arrangement.

Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud announced in The Nationals Party Room in Canberra today after careful, respectful consideration and two Nationals MP meetings in a week, that the regional Australian party would not continue for now in the coalition opposition.  Mr Littleproud left the door wide open to rejoining the coalition in future.

“Today, The Nationals took a principled position that with our strong, regionally focussed policy positions - on a permanent fund for regional Australia’s needs, on supermarkets, on nuclear as part of our energy mix and reliable mobile coverage – that it was best for now that we stand apart from the Liberal Party,” Dr Webster said.

“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, The Nationals do not have the assurance we need that these policies will be honoured in a future Coalition Agreement.

“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.

“As Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health in the previous parliament, I have developed comprehensive health policy that is regionally focussed, as it needs to be, because we have serious and urgent needs.  The Nationals will now have the clear air to advocate without restraint for Mallee and for Regional Australians.

“Today’s bold decision shows The Nationals will never take a backward step in fighting for regional Australia’s best interests.  Today’s number one focus is regional Australians - the best way we could take on the Albanese Labor Government without restraint was to make the move we did today.”

“There have been three breaks in the Coalition agreement before, and every time the Coalition has come back in a better position to govern for all Australians from the regions to the capital cities.

“In the meantime, as I have been doing in Mallee, The Nationals relish the opportunity to take up the fight for regional Australians to the Albanese Labor Government in the Parliament.

“The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments have been raiding the regions to buy votes in the inner cities. The Nationals are ready to rumble with the Albanese Government, giving Mallee a voice and ensuring regional Australians are not ‘held back’ or ‘left behind’, as the Prime Minister is fond of saying.”