Nationals Reject Coalition Reentry Citing Nuclear Energy, Pledge Opposition to Albanese

Nationals leader David Littleproud announced that the party will not re-enter a Coalition agreement with the Liberals, citing principled disagreements, particularly over nuclear energy policy and regional funding. Littleproud emphasized the need for the Liberal Party to undergo a 'journey of rediscovery' without the Nationals imposing their will, while maintaining the door open for future cooperation. The Nationals sought to retain independence on policy votes without the usual Cabinet solidarity, reflecting their desire to prioritize regional Australian interests. The split follows a difficult election that saw the Liberals lose significant ground, while the Nationals retained most of their seats, emboldening their stance. Despite the split, Littleproud affirmed a commitment to work constructively with the Liberals to oppose the Albanese government. He also rejected claims that the split would render either party irrelevant, framing it as a mature decision to clarify each party's identity and priorities.