When asked about his intentions to run for leadership of The Nationals on ABC radio this morning, former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack backed David Littleproud and declared, “I’m ambitious for him.”
Aww, men in politics feeling ambitious for each other. What a moment!
A moment that sounds familiar.
In 2018, former prime minister Scott Morrison had the same thing to say about then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull when asked about his own leadership ambitions. “I am ambitious for him,” Morrison replied, putting his arm around Turnbull.
If only these men could be ambitious for Australia instead of winning internal power struggles.
Right now, Australia needs some hope of an opposition to rebuild itself and hold the new Albanese Government accountable.
Labor’s thumping majority may see it increase its own ambitions for bold and progressive policy reform, but some kind of workable opposition will support a functioning democracy and could also help prevent the rise of further far-right movements from the disgruntled fringes.
But we’re unlikely to get such an opposition soon, given the Coalition’s catastrophic self-destruction this week, following its disastrous election campaign.
The Nationals announced they were splitting from the Liberal party on Tuesday, after failing to reach an agreement with Sussan Ley, the newly elected leader of the Liberal party. Ley wants to review all policies the Coalition took to the election, but the Nationals were hellbent on getting their way immediately. Also relevant to the haste of the announced split (I believe at least) is that Ley lost her mother on Sunday. She also happens to be the first female leader of the LIberal party.
On Thursday, news emerged of movements to reassemble the Coalition. More on that below.
But here’s what else is happening right now in regional areas, which the Nationals say they exist to represent.
Record flooding is occurring in parts of NSW, including Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, with a natural disaster declared. Four people have died, others are missing, and an estimated 50,000 people are now isolated.
Currently, the worst-affected areas are in the seat of Cowper, which The Nationals managed to narrowly retain at the last election.
To be fair to Pat Conaghan, the Nationals MP who held the seat, he is issuing updates from his social media accounts on the current situation. But how nice it would be for a freshly elected local member to fully focus on his community during one of its most testing periods, rather than the future of the party that elected him?
Indeed, if ever there was a time for all members of The Nationals to be humble and patient, it would be now, especially as they have at least seven weeks before parliament returns.
This morning, while dismissing his own leadership ambitions, Michael McCormack also told ABC radio about his close relationship with Sussan Ley and how he wants the two parties to come together again.
“The Nationals walked away from the Liberals and Sussan was the newly appointed Liberal leader. It’s important that I did talk to her to try and get things patched up,” he said.
He also conceded that the whole process has been “messy”.
“It’s been really messy, and for people on the outside looking in, they just wonder what the hell is going on.”
We sure are.