Cabinet solidarity not taken to Nationals party room, senator Bridget McKenzie says

David Littleproud did not take an agreement to cabinet solidarity to the Nationals party room as part of reopening Coalition negotiations with the Liberals, Bridget McKenzie has declared. The Nationals sensationally split from the Liberal Party last week, breaking up an 80-year partnership, and the parties have been in crisis talks since, with a reformation expected to be announced this week. Speaking on the state of play on Wednesday, the senior Nationals senator said her party room had agreed to re-enter talks after the Liberal Party conceded on four key policies the party previously refused to give a guarantee on. The four polices, which were central to the Nationals’ campaign, included divestiture powers for supermarkets, nuclear power, its proposed $20bn regional Australia fund and greater telecommunications coverage. Senator McKenzie said a proposed agreement on cabinet solidarity – which means all opposition spokespeople would back positions of the Coalition regardless of personal views –was not presented to the Nationals party room. “What was put to the party room and what the party room made its decision on was the four policy issues,” she told Seven. “I was in the room. I know what the room made its decision on and it was the four policies, the mobile connectivity, divestiture of supermarkets, nuclear and obviously the regional futures fund.” Pressed on whether cabinet solidarity was included, Senator McKenzie said it “wasn’t put to the room”. When asked if the Nationals leader did not bring it to the party room at all after speaking with Sussan Ley, she said it was a matter of “private conversations” between Mr Littleproud and the Liberal leader. “I think you are going to have to talk to Sussan Ley and David Littleproud about their private conversations together as leaders,” Senator McKenzie said. “I can only let you know what the room discussed. And what we made our decision on.” Senator McKenzie has been scathing of the Liberal Party since the federal election and fiercely advocated for her party to get more power in the Coalition. It was revealed in the election post-mortem that the Liberals did not consult their National Party colleagues on key policies before announcing them. Senator McKenzie was also furious about Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s shock defection to the Liberal Party room earlier this month. She accused the Liberals of “recruiting” Senator Price during the election campaign, saying it was “not the behaviour of partners”. Senator James Paterson somewhat confirmed the claim last week when he admitted to “trying to recruit Jacinta to Liberal Party” for years. Meanwhile, senator Matt Canavan has praised Mr Littleproud two weeks after challenging him for the Nationals leadership. Senator Canavan said his boss had “done a great job over the past week”. “He’s delivered results for the National Party and the people we represent,” he told Nine. “We want to make sure we use all our energy sources, including nuclear … we want to protect small businesses and farmers through stronger competition laws, and we deserve better services, and he’s guaranteed that $20bn fund.” Senator Canavan also said Mr Littleproud was safe from another leadership challenge. “I challenged him only a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “He won that ballot. He won the support of the Nationals party. “As I said, he’s gone into bat for us in the past week, delivered results. What more, what more can you want?”