The opposition leader,Sussan Ley, says progress on a new cooperation agreement with the Nationals will take time, promising productive talks amid an internal push to ditch net zero policies and even end the longstanding coalition with the Liberals.
Ley met with Nationals leaderDavid Littleproudin Albury on Thursday, the first formal talks between the pair since the Coalition was thrashed in the 3 May election.
The meeting came as the Nationals continue their own postmortem assessments of the election loss, with private meetings and talks about representation in the shadow ministry under way.
Senior Nationals MPs want the party to increase their numbers on the opposition frontbench, after the Liberals went backwards at the poll. Under former opposition leader Peter Dutton, the Nationals held nine shadow ministry positions.
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Traditionally the split between Liberals and Nationals is assigned on a proportional basis across the joint party room, but the Nationals had two extra spots in the last parliament, including one held bydefector Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
The Senate leader, Bridget McKenzie, said broader consideration of portfolios should include frontline economic positions, noting the Nationals now account for nearly 35% of the Coalition’s total lower house numbers.
The Nationals will insist on keeping the trade portfolio and have pushed the Liberals on productivity and competition policy in recent years, including on forced divestiture powers for the supermarket sector.
Other possible areas of consideration include energy, manufacturing and critical supply chains.
McKenzie warned on Thursday the partnership should not be taken for granted, and a new Coalition agreement should not be rushed.
“It’s an historic fact that the Nationals led economic debates in the past, and there should be no reason to constrain the portfolios of the modernNational party,” she told Guardian Australia.
“The Labor party has shied away from addressing flatlining productivity, falling competition in key sectors, and realistic energy policy.”
Ley hosted Littleproud in her electorate of Farrer so she could remain close to her mother, who is receiving end-of-life care in Albury.
“It was a productive and respectful meeting, and it was the first, but it won’t be the last, and I look forward to those ongoing discussions,” Ley said.
She declined to say which policy areas or appointments were discussed.
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“There were productive conversations about a range of matters, but very, very convivial, very friendly.
“Matters that the Nationals discuss in their party room are for them, and matters that theLiberal partydiscuss in our party room are for us.”
Nationals MPs, including Queensland senator Matt Canavan, want the opposition to dump its support for net zero by 2050.
The opposition’s plan for nuclear energy is also under a cloud in the wake of the election. It is expected to be closely considered by the formal review conducted by party elders.
Ley on Tuesday left the door open towalk away from net zero, after declaring all the party’s policies would be reviewed after the disastrous election result.
Ley said she would not ignite a fresh “climate war”, insisting there would be “sound, sensible consultation” on the party’s future climate and energy policies.
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, ridiculed the push, comparing it to putting the “sky being blue” up for debate.