By LIAM DURKIN
CUE Titanic “I changed my mind” scene.
Hello David …
Like many Hollywood romances however, there are new marriage rules for the on-again-off-again relationship between the Liberals and Nationals.
The two parties reunited at the weekend, following the second Coalition split in less than a year under Sussan Ley’s leadership.
Nationals leader David Littleproud had previously said the Coalition would not reform while Ms Ley remained in the top job.
Ms Ley could still be on borrowed time, but for now at least, all three previously dumped Nationals senators have been reinstated.
Their dismissals were brought on last month after the Coalition failed to come to an agreement on hate speech laws fast-tracked in the wake of the Bondi massacre.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is this week hosting Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
As part of the reunion, neither party will be able to override a decision of shadow cabinet.
Shadow cabinet can only be overturned by a joint Coalition party room, not the Nationals alone.
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester said the reset had provided clarity for the the two parties.
“I welcome the decision to re-form the Coalition between the Liberal Party and The Nationals,” he said.
“Out of respect to millions of Coalition supporters across Australia, we took the time to get the settings right as part of the negotiations with the Liberal Party.
“Personally, I took the view ‘the things that united us, were bigger than the things that divided us’ and worked constructively with The Nationals leadership team to help secure this result.
“Every moment we spend talking about internal party issues is a free pass to a weak and divisive Prime Minister who has failed to keep his promises to lower energy bills and govern for all Australians.
“As a Coalition, we need to commit ourselves to doing the hard work required to hold the government to account as we engage with all Australians, listen to their concerns, and develop policies that make a difference in people’s lives.”
Mr Chester will pick up his role of Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.
“It will take a united Coalition team to develop the sensible policies which respect individual choice in Australian families and deliver a safer, stronger, fairer Australia, where everyone can get ahead,” he said.
The split attracted no shortage of criticism from Liberal heavyweights, including Jeff Kennett.
The former Premier was on record as saying Mr Littleproud was “not the shoelace” of former National Party leaders Ian Sinclair, Doug Anthony or Peter Nixon.
Mr Chester’s local colleague and state Nationals leader, Danny O’Brien meanwhile was caught in the crossfire over the inaugural Across Victoria Alliance conference held in Horsham at the weekend.
The event heard from regional Victorians opposing the state government’s controversial emergency services levy.
Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson was unable to attend, leading Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to claim she was “bullied” by the fact new One Nation man and former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was going to be there.
“The Premier seems obsessed with my diary. I say to the Premier – focus on the needs of Victorians,” Ms Wilson told the Herald Sun.
Ms Allan and Labor might have even greater concerns though, as reports filter in that former Premier Daniel Andrews is in very poor health.
While sources are remaining tight-lipped, word on the street telegraph is that the 53-year-old has suffered multiple strokes.
He was reportedly admitted to Monash Clayton Hospital late last year.
