Turnbull issues threat to rebel Nats

(AAP) - Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has issued a thinly-veiled warning to
rebellious Nationals senators, telling them he expects "very few" deviations from
the coalition line.
The warning came after Barnaby Joyce, the Nationals leader in the Senate, knocked
back Mr Turnbull's offer of a place on the opposition front bench.
Twice last week Senator Joyce and his three upper house colleagues crossed the floor
to vote against their coalition colleagues, prompting some senior Liberals to seek a
review of the coalition agreement.
Mr Turnbull said he accepted there would be occasions when coalition members chose
to vote against decisions of the opposition frontbench and the joint party room.
"But those deviations, if you like, from the collective decision have to be very
few," he told reporters in Sydney.
They also had to be very carefully undertaken because unity was vital in politics.
Mr Turnbull said it would be desirable for Senator Joyce to be a member of the
opposition frontbench, adding it was "perfectly standard practice".
"Clearly it would be better if Mr Joyce were part of that leadership group, but he's
chosen not to be."
Senator Joyce said Mr Turnbull asked him to join the coalition frontbench during a
"civil" conversation over coffee on Saturday.
But nothing had changed since September when a similar offer was made and rejected,
he said.
"My view is the Senate is there to review and amend legislation and represent the
rights of the states," Senator Joyce told the Nine Network.
"If you don't believe that get rid of the Senate."
Despite a difference of opinion over tax exemptions for carbon sink forests and
Labor's raiding of the communications fund to help fund a national broadband
network, Senator Joyce remains committed to a coalition.
Scrapping it would send the conservative side of politics into the wilderness, he said.
"To break the coalition is not something that the National party will be suggesting.
"It's been the most successful political model in Australia."
Senator Joyce would not rule out reports he was considering making a move to the
lower house, where he could make a tilt for the parliamentary leadership of the
party.
The move was not on "at this point of time", he said.
But he did say a decision might be influenced by his family and party members in the
western Queensland seat of Maranoa, currently held by Nationals stalwart Bruce
Scott.
Mr Turnbull was curt in response to suggestions Senator Joyce was undermining his
leadership.
"I'm not going to say anymore on that. I have made my point about the coalition.
I've got nothing more to say about Senator Joyce."