Mining magnate Clive Palmer has indicated he might become a financial backer for the Nationals should the party fail to rejoin its Coalition partnership with the Liberal Party. The Australian billionaire has not ruled out acting as a safety net for the Nationals during the ongoing dispute between Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud.
Coalition Collapse and Financial Implications
The alliance between the warring parties collapsed last month following internal conflicts over Labor's new hate speech legislation, and attempts at reconciliation have so far proven unsuccessful. While rumours suggest there have been 'civil' discussions between Ley and Littleproud, Ley has issued a stark warning that the separation could become permanent if the Nationals don't rejoin by February 9.
Palmer's Political History and Current Position
Clive Palmer spent more than four decades with the Nationals before his unsuccessful attempts to replicate Donald Trump's political success in Australia through the United Australia Party and later the Trumpet of Patriots movement. Both of these political ventures failed to gain significant traction, with only one MP, Ralph Babet, being elected under the United Australia Party banner and no seats secured by Trumpet of Patriots.
However, Palmer was remarkably forthright when speaking outside a High Court challenge concerning political donation caps on Wednesday. According to reports in the Australian Financial Review, he described the Liberal Party as 'a party full of w***ers' and suggested it was effectively finished.
Discussions with Nationals Figures
Palmer clarified that he had not met with Nationals leader David Littleproud directly, but had engaged in discussions with other National Party members he has 'known for years'. He explained: 'I've had discussions with the Nats – not with David Littleproud on leadership but with members I've known for years, just talking about the situation' surrounding the current rift.
The billionaire elaborated on his conversations, stating: 'I've said to the Nationals, well, what do you think you're going to do? Because before you can talk about funding support or anything, you've got to know what you're going to do. They didn't know what they were going to do.'
Ministerial Positions at Risk
Liberal Senate leader Michaela Cash delivered a warning on Wednesday that Nationals could potentially be stripped of their ministerial positions by the Liberals as early as Thursday. The Nationals have already lost eleven frontbench positions as a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict.
Sources from both sides of the Coalition have indicated to the Australian Financial Review that a resolution might not be reached until Sunday at the earliest, if it can be achieved at all.
Deadline and Conditions for Reconciliation
Under Ley's deadline, if the Nationals fail to rejoin the Coalition by Monday, the alliance could remain collapsed until the next federal election, which is due by May 2028. It is understood that Ley sent a list of specific conditions to the Nationals on Tuesday regarding any potential reunion.
Key Demands and Counter-Demands
These conditions included a demand that the three Nationals senators who breached shadow cabinet rules by voting against the government's anti-hate laws – Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell – be suspended for six months. The Nationals did not formally respond to this demand but indicated they would not suspend the trio.
Ley's second condition called for tighter rules to prevent future breaches of Coalition solidarity. In response, the Nationals sought reassurance that the joint party room would be given authority over individual Liberal or National rooms for shadow cabinet decisions, highlighting the fundamental disagreements that continue to divide the former Coalition partners.
