Turnbull, Truss deny coalition rift talk

Coalition party leaders Malcolm Turnbull and Warren Truss have both dismissed talk
of a split in the Liberal Party-Nationals coalition.
Mr Turnbull said on Thursday the partnership between the two parties was solid even
though the Nationals might at times vote differently on some issues.
They were responding to a newspaper report claiming a recent Nationals party room
meeting discussed ending the coalition, with unhappiness centred on the proposed
emissions trading scheme (ETS).
"If the Nationals in the Senate, for example, choose to vote a different way on the
ETS or on some amendments to the ETS, that's less than ideal but that's their right.
They've done that on other issues such as wheat," Mr Turnbull told reporters.
Mr Truss acknowledged a split might have been discussed but not seriously.
"Discussions in party meetings should never be taken flippantly but the reality is
there was no serious consideration given to severing the relationship and we have no
plans to talk about it again," Mr Truss told reporters.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says any likelihood of his party merging with
Family First would be considered for about only "three seconds".
Senator Joyce had said a possible split from the Liberal Party was discussed at a
recent Nationals meeting, The Australian reports.
The Nationals had discussed quitting the coalition amid growing frustration with the
Liberals and the opposition's poor performance in the polls, the report says.
The newspaper cites sources saying that a review of party tactics conducted by
former leader John Anderson and former director Michael Priebe had concluded the
party must clearly establish its presence as the party of regional Australia.
Family First senator Steve Fielding on Thursday made an offer for the Nationals to
join his party.
"I think the Nationals should probably consider joining Family First because frankly
they're not comfortable with the Liberal Party," Senator Fielding told reporters in
Canberra.
The coalition is "just a sham" which could be seen on Wednesday, he said, referring
to Nationals senator Ron Boswell's justified concern over the deal between the major
parties on the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme.
In reply, Senator Joyce told reporters that even though Family First have got one
member, "sometimes they've got two positions.
"So there's a place in there for all of us, so if we double the number we could have
like 15 positions."
And that anything was worth contemplating "for about three seconds".
Senator Joyce said just because an issue had been discussed in the party room, it
didn't mean it would be seriously considered.
"This is the reality of all parties, a whole range of issues strategically are
discussed."
The matter was unlikely to be discussed at the weekend's Nationals federal council
meeting, he said.
Nationals Senator John Williams said the National Party was not the Liberal Party.
"We have differences on the odd occasion," he told reporters.
The Nationals voted with the Liberals nearly all the time on issues, he said.
"Some things we disagree with, so we vote how we like," Senator Williams said.
His colleague, Senator Ron Boswell, said he wouldn't say what was discussed in the
party room.
"That's strictly for the party room," he told reporters.
Nor would he comment on Senator Joyce's comments in the newspaper.
But the Nationals supported the deal brokered on Wednesday "with no enthusiasm at
all and a great reluctance".
The only reason the Nationals supported the deal was it was an election commitment,
Senator Boswell said.
"In the National Party, when you shake hands with someone that's your bond and you
stick with it."
While Senator Boswell said the emissions trading scheme would definitely make or
break Australia, he wouldn't say whether it would make or break the coalition.
The National Party's federal council will take place in Canberra this weekend after
corporate meetings with members of the party are held on Friday.