Future of National Party fades
By Anthea Gleeson
news@longreachleader.com.au
THE Queensland Coalition was thrown into disarray last week when its secret plan to unify the two parties came to light through a leaked party document.
The Liberal document spelt out the details of a plan to absorb the National Party, leaving party members and supporters aghast.
It was not the first time the two conservative parties have tried the merger on for size and National Party Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson believes it won’t be the last.
"I’m supportive of the idea, but it needs to include fairer input from both sides regarding branding and constitution," Mr Johnson said speaking in between parliamentary meetings earlier in the week.
"It was a five-minute secret-service rush job.
"The grass roots members need to be involved in the decision-making process.
"The time has arrived in Queensland to unify the conservative parties.
"Queensland has been made a small place through technology, with most of the population residing in the south east.
"We now need to become stronger and united in policy that is good for the whole of the State."
While the events of the past week have left some questioning the stability of the Queensland Coalition, Mr Johnson believes it is stronger than ever.
"The coalition is deadly united and committed to going forward.
"We need the three-corner contest eliminated to maximise the coalition vote and maximise the conservative vote."
Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott, also a National Party man, found himself in the middle of the debacle last week, when Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy Mark Vaile threw the merger idea out the window.
"The overwhelming mood from people is that they are supportive of the idea but they want more information because there are a whole lot of issues to deal with," Mr Scott said.
"Politics is moving towards ‘presidential style campaigns’; for example people are either voting for Lawrence Springborg or Peter Beattie or another candidate.
"People are now looking for a local candidate who best knows local issues and is best able to fight for those issues in a parliament sitting – people like Vaughan Johnson," Mr Scott added skilfully.
Banter in political circles is now focusing on whether Premier Peter Beattie will cash-in on the Coalition fumble currently overshadowing the Government’s never ending health fiasco.
"One week is a long time in politics, however the recent events have certainly played into Beattie’s hands," University of Queensland political science senior lecturer Doctor Rae Wear said.
"The failed merger will give Beattie, and Labor, some ammunition going into the next State election.
"The writing’s on the wall for the Nationals.
"While they can keep trying, they are failing demographically.
"They will never become the ‘national’ party, they will forever be the ‘country’ party, and with demographics slipping away in the bush they haven’t got a very expansive future.
"The country seats are changing and being affected by people moving from the city to the bush - it is the whole ‘tree change’ phenomena and it’s affecting country politics.
"The future of the National Party lies in a merger and I think the time will be reached when they will come together with the other conservative party."
news@longreachleader.com.au
THE Queensland Coalition was thrown into disarray last week when its secret plan to unify the two parties came to light through a leaked party document.
The Liberal document spelt out the details of a plan to absorb the National Party, leaving party members and supporters aghast.
It was not the first time the two conservative parties have tried the merger on for size and National Party Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson believes it won’t be the last.
"I’m supportive of the idea, but it needs to include fairer input from both sides regarding branding and constitution," Mr Johnson said speaking in between parliamentary meetings earlier in the week.
"It was a five-minute secret-service rush job.
"The grass roots members need to be involved in the decision-making process.
"The time has arrived in Queensland to unify the conservative parties.
"Queensland has been made a small place through technology, with most of the population residing in the south east.
"We now need to become stronger and united in policy that is good for the whole of the State."
While the events of the past week have left some questioning the stability of the Queensland Coalition, Mr Johnson believes it is stronger than ever.
"The coalition is deadly united and committed to going forward.
"We need the three-corner contest eliminated to maximise the coalition vote and maximise the conservative vote."
Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott, also a National Party man, found himself in the middle of the debacle last week, when Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy Mark Vaile threw the merger idea out the window.
"The overwhelming mood from people is that they are supportive of the idea but they want more information because there are a whole lot of issues to deal with," Mr Scott said.
"Politics is moving towards ‘presidential style campaigns’; for example people are either voting for Lawrence Springborg or Peter Beattie or another candidate.
"People are now looking for a local candidate who best knows local issues and is best able to fight for those issues in a parliament sitting – people like Vaughan Johnson," Mr Scott added skilfully.
Banter in political circles is now focusing on whether Premier Peter Beattie will cash-in on the Coalition fumble currently overshadowing the Government’s never ending health fiasco.
"One week is a long time in politics, however the recent events have certainly played into Beattie’s hands," University of Queensland political science senior lecturer Doctor Rae Wear said.
"The failed merger will give Beattie, and Labor, some ammunition going into the next State election.
"The writing’s on the wall for the Nationals.
"While they can keep trying, they are failing demographically.
"They will never become the ‘national’ party, they will forever be the ‘country’ party, and with demographics slipping away in the bush they haven’t got a very expansive future.
"The country seats are changing and being affected by people moving from the city to the bush - it is the whole ‘tree change’ phenomena and it’s affecting country politics.
"The future of the National Party lies in a merger and I think the time will be reached when they will come together with the other conservative party."
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