Michael McCormack, now confirmed as member for Riverina after being re-elected in last month’s federal election, has doubled-down on his opposition to any such move. Even with this personal victory, though, he accepted that the overall performance of the Coalition was a disaster. McCormack was keen to stress that the Nationals had beaten the pants off the Liberal Party. This loss at the national level underscores the need for serious, sober, and immediate reflection in both parties.
In his post-election press conference, McCormack himself acknowledged that the Coalition’s defeat was historic. As he put it, “naturally you can’t go around crowing about victories and stuff when clearly the national result was terrible.” This feeling strikes a chord, as the Coalition, made up of the Nationals and Liberals, continues to come under fire for its electoral tactics.
The Status of the Nationals
Indeed, under McCormack’s stewardship, the Nationals won an additional 14 lower house seats. This win brings in five seats from the Queensland-victorious Liberal National Party (LNP). This strong performance was in stark contrast to the outcome for the Liberals, who won 39 seats but had great difficulty winning in other competitive ridings. McCormack took pride in his party’s representation of the nation’s diversity, stating that they must continue to be a voice for all constituents.
Yet the Nationals continue to struggle with internal strife, namely in their lack of gender representation. With the expected retirement of Perin Davey, the party will soon have just three women in its Senate ranks. As former Nationals leader Kay Hull has said, it’s about getting more women to come forward into politics.
“We are not backward in coming forward,” – Kay Hull
Hull encouraged more women to run with the Nationals, acknowledging that women needed to be a part of the myriad voices in the party. She concluded, “That’s not enough—you have to make the voters want women to be their representatives.” She made it clear that real change requires concerted efforts from candidates and voters alike.
Future Leadership and Internal Dynamics
As conversations over leadership have been heard around the Coalition, McCormack has backed current leader David Littleproud. He did not close the door on challenging for the leadership if Littleproud was to choose to stand aside. This indecision is part of a larger ideological dispute about the party’s future and what place they should have within the Coalition.
McCormack focused on the discontent simmering within the ranks. He asked them to raise these concerns within their coalition party room, rather than leaking them to the media. He continued, “The National Party may have our fights once in a while like every other party, but we typically discuss that sort of thing among ourselves and that’s important. This appeal for collaborative efforts is intended to further enhance their standing as the next electoral battles encroach.
After the recent events, Member for Callide Colin Boyce condemned the lack of leadership accountability under the Coalition. He stated that leaders must take responsibility for failures: “He was quite prepared to take 50 per cent of the glory if the Coalition won the government, and now it’s time for him to take 50 per cent of the responsibility for what is a monumental political disaster for conservative politics.”
Looking Ahead
Both parties are taking a hard look at themselves in the wake of their electoral shellacking. Despite all of this, McCormack thinks the Nationals still have room to improve. Yet, beyond his party, he understands that this period of introspection is needed for his coalition partners—as they’re called collectively in India—too.
Looking ahead, strengthening the Nationals’ brand McCormack has plenty to consider beyond the current pandemic. He intends to push for team members to be more representative and collaborative. He believes that by focusing on internal cohesion and addressing member concerns transparently, they can emerge stronger in future elections.
