What is the point of the National Party

[flashmanvc]

The Nats seem to hang onto their seats by inertia as much as anything. I'm in (I think) the safest National seat in the country and, apart from returning cattle to national parks for the benefit of only a handful of families, they don't appear to stand for anything.

Demographic shift has been noted already in this thread. The Nats biggest threat comes from independent candidates who can play to this through the realisation that the majority of voters care more about health, education, nbn etc rather than cows in the hills. At least an independent or even marginal seats likely to see more spending than a safe Nat seat.

 

[clogged]

Or, you know, they could copy the WA Nats and just leave the Coalition.

There isn't that kind of mindless provincialism in NSW as there is in WA.

 

[maelcoluim]

There isn't that kind of mindless provincialism in NSW as there is in WA.

The way the Nationals are trending in the east would suggest that rural voters would prefer an independent National Party.

That said the party itself is probably happy with their 15 odd seats each election, and keeping within a cushy coalition rather than fighting for seats with the Libs particularly in an optional preferential voting system such as in NSW. The main catalyst for the WA Nats going independent was when one vote, one value was introduced reducing their influence in one stroke and forcing them to rethink their direction if the party was to remain relevant. It would take a similar situation in the federal or state branches of the Nats before I could see them doing the same.

 

[pazza]

Part of the Nats problem has always been allowing the Liberals into their heartland and splitting their vote.

 

[kfc1]

Firstly, Ballina and Lismore have been trending towards the Left for sometime, (Federally, this area had an 18% Green vote in 2013, the sixth highest in the country). There is still a rural component to these electorates, but it's diminishing. I think the significance of them losing seats to the Greens has been overstated.

Ballina and Lismore are hippy central, not sure OP realised this?
As you said, it's a long way from rural Nationals heartland.

 

[Maggie5]

 

[smokingjacket]

Open cut coal has a different effect than CSG. Does not risk the water table or underground aquifers for one. Plenty of farmers are fine with coal yet oppose CSG.

You will normally still need to de-water for an open cut mine, just not to the crazy depths that they do for CSG. An open cut mine will ruin the water table in the surrounding area and possibly contaminate it. CSG de-watering can affect the water table over a region.

 

[kfc1]

You will normally still need to de-water for an open cut mine, just not to the crazy depths that they do for CSG. An open cut mine will ruin the water table in the surrounding area and possibly contaminate it. CSG de-watering can affect the water table over a region.

You can do great things with that water - look at Tom Price, it's a desert oasis due to the open cut.

 

[smokingjacket]

You can do great things with that water - look at Tom Price, it's a desert oasis due to the open cut.

True. I think Rio have a program where they create silage from their de-watering from mines in the Mid West. The point was de-watering to the depth of an open cut mine is a long way from de-watering to some of these CSG pockets.

 

[Maggie5]

Doing some cleaning up and found my old coin collection, seeing the shilling coins with the rams head and thinking that perhaps the next coin can just have a hole in the middle. Replicating what the next generations will look forward - to holes in the ground and the economy.

 

[clogged]

You can do great things with that water - look at Tom Price, it's a desert oasis due to the open cut.

The difference is that these coa rich areas are some of the most prime agricultural regions in the country. Whereas Tom Price is a dusty shithole.

 

[RightorKhan]

Because there's been a long established scientific link between conservatism and melanin deficiency.

People who lack this nutrient begin to go a little wary in the head. And then they express their illness by creating a "conservative party" and as all others become deficient with them, you eventually get the national party.

They affix to weird lifestyles and routines. Many recluse and choose acreage 40km+ from the city all so they can put all these weird little shipping containers and kit homes on their land and build their own little gay land. They're not poor or anything just eccentric. I dunno it's a weird reclusive white trash thing you could get a normal home in the city for the same price with a liveable life around you, makes no sense to anyone who has sufficient melanin.

 

[kfc1]

Wut

 

[Bomberboyokay]

WA Nationals have been in coalition government with the WA Liberals since after the 2008 election but have done a fantastic job convincing people they're not.

 

[The Speaker]

WA Nationals have been in coalition government with the WA Liberals since after the 2008 election but have done a fantastic job convincing people they're not.

They're not part of 'the Coalition', the thing that has been killing the Nationals for years.

The reason they don't call it a coalition government is because of the baggage the term comes with in this country.

 

[04 Durif]

Tony Windsor keeps saying and I agree with him. They could wield power if they wanted and break off the coalition and become a party that negotiates with whoever is in power. They could get a lot done and would increase their primary vote

 

[Jiska]

Tony Windsor keeps saying and I agree with him. They could wield power if they wanted and break off the coalition and become a party that negotiates with whoever is in power. They could get a lot done and would increase their primary vote

True. It could also spell their demise and push the party in to non-relevant oblivion.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

True. It could also spell their demise and push the party in to non-relevant oblivion.

Which is different from now how?

 

[Bomberboyokay]

They'd have to think long and hard before quitting the Coalition, and not just because they're full of born-to-rule types who'd despise sitting on the crossbench on reduced pay. The Liberals would run candidates in every House seat and no more Senate seats gifted via unity tickets in NSW, VIC and QLD.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Also the IPA would be annoyed at printing two copies of everything.

 

[04 Durif]

Also the IPA would be annoyed at printing two copies of everything.

What does a type of beer have to print anything for

 

[The Speaker]

Also the IPA would be annoyed at printing two copies of everything.

The whole point of splitting from the Coalition is that they wouldn't be under the influence of such organisations.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Malcolm Knox was promoting his book about the Supermarket duopoly on ABC radio in Melbourne this morning. While discussing the donations Coles/Woolies hand out out to both major political parties, therefore doing nothing about their control over farmers. Malcolm pointed out that the political party farmers should be questioning the most is Nationals.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

 

[Hank Scorpion]

Apt bump. Looks like they'll get spanked in NSW. And they had their worst result in Victoria since the party was essentially founded.

They need to grow a pair or else the steady defection of their vote to SFF & Indies will continue