Liberal Leader Libby Mettam pours cold water on prospect of speedy outcome in Coalition talks with Nationals

Discussions between the Liberals and Nationals about entering a formal coalition are likely to drag on for months with Libby Mettam saying her party was in no rush to broker an agreement that would make her Opposition Leader. The Nationals have proposed handing over the mantle of formal opposition in exchange for a joint ticket in the Legislative Council that would place country party candidates in three of the top nine slots. Nationals Leader Shane Love first outlined the skeleton of the propisition back in February but talks have since progressed to the point where a formal proposal was put to the Liberals earlier this month, with a deadline for response set for close of business on Monday. However, the Liberals appear to be in no rush, with Ms Mettam saying it “should not come as any surprise” that the two parties – who are currently in an informal alliance – were “discussing ways to maximise our resources” at the next election. “We are at the start of the conversation - but this process will require consultation and input from a range of people across the parliamentary and organisational wings of both parties,” she said. The West Australian understands Liberal State President Caroline Di Russo is away on leave from the middle of this week for a fortnight, with no progress likely to be made until she returns. In a letter outlining the proposal to Ms Di Russo, Nationals president Tony Crook said forming a coalition would “de-risk upcoming campaigns for both organisations by delivering a unified platform and minimising waste”. Under the terms of the proposed deal, a Nationals candidate would occupy every third spot on a joint Upper House ticket, which Mr Crook described as “equitable” because it would maintain the current 7-3 split between the Liberals and Nationals in the Legislative Council. The Leader of the Liberal Party (currently Ms Mettam) would become Opposition Leader, with the Leader of the Nationals (currently Mr Love) to be deputy. The Nationals also suggest establishing a shadow expenditure review committee (SERC) “to oversee the development and approval of joint policies that involve expenditure or savings of taxpayer funds”. “Beyond policy initiatives requiring approval by SERC, each Party will maintain the prerogative to establish and announce election platform policies in their own right,” Mr Crook wrote. Similarly, a joint campaign committee would be formed “with the express purpose of harmonising and focusing the campaign activities of the two parties and the promotion of joint policies”. Mr Crook also proposed a joint campaign headquarters for the 2025 election and fortnightly meetings of the two party’s state directors. The two parties would agree not to run against each other in seats they already hold, with further discussion required in electorates they hope to prise off Labor. “Three cornered contests are a savage waste of resources in some seats, while in others, the ability to communicate with a broader audience is valuable,” Mr Crook wrote. “An assessment of the likelihood of either Party in each seat should be undertaken by the JCC.” If executed, Mr Crook floated the deal forming a template for a formal coalition at Federal level also. “Such agreement may include protocols for contesting House of Representatives electorates, establishing a joint Senate ticket, and support a Joint Campaign Committee system as outlined above,” he wrote. The letter makes no mention of how resourcing would be split between the Liberal and National parties, with the former likely to demand a much larger share of government funding as a prerequisite for any kind of coalition. The benefit to the Liberals of Ms Mettam becoming Opposition Leader for 12 to 18 months must also be weighed against the Nationals demand for winnable positions on a joint Legislative Council ticket that would give the country party a big leg-up at the 2025 election. Mr Love said the proposal was motivated by a desire to shield regional West Australians from a Labor Government that “chooses to ignore the opportunity and strength outside of Perth”. “With electoral reform trying to wipe regional voices off the map, primary industries slammed shut with no rationale or genuine transition, a rollout of a shoddy aboriginal heritage system opponents labelled as flawed... our communities have been left thinking ‘what’s next?’” He said. “The Nationals have said enough is enough. We need to chart a pathway back to government to stop the onslaught of attacks on our regions. “It is in this spirit our Party leadership have entered into discussions with our alliance partners, the Liberals, regarding a formal coalition agreement. “We have worked well together to hold this arrogant and unrelenting Labor Government to account, and we now need to find a way to unseat them in the upcoming State and Federal Elections.” Electoral reforms enacted by the Cook Government that create a single statewide electorate in the Upper House pose an existential threat to the Nationals, who are likely to win just one or two seats under the new system if running as a standalone party. In addition, a draft boundaries for seats in the Legislative Assembly propose abolishing the Nationals-held electorate of North West Central, further diminishing the party’s presence in Parliament. “We understand that the latest electoral boundary redistribution poses challenges for the WA Nationals electoral chances in the Legislative Assembly,” Ms Mettam said. “These come on top of the challenges already posed by Labor’s changes to the Legislative Council. “We will continue to work with our WA Nationals colleagues as an Alliance, and stand ready to engage in productive discussions about the future of that Alliance.”