Cubbie throws Nationals a lifeline

Such a move would see the Nationals assume the position of main opposition while pushing Labor to minor party status with only 7 seats and denying them crucial funds.

New South Walesis also a state which has seen Labor decimated and offers a unique opportunity for the Nationals to change the political landscape. The Nationals hold 18 seats in NSW to the Labor party's 20 seats; if the Nationals could attract 3 disaffected Liberal members they could replace the ALP as the states main opposition Party.

The recent attacks by Liberal frontbenchers such as Joe Hockey on Nationals opposing the Cubbie station sale highlights the increasing similarity of the Liberals and the Labor.

With recent attacks by Joe Hockey on Nationals questioning the Cubbie station sale, the time is approaching for the Nationals to recognise that their policy aims can not be achieved from the confines of the Coalition.

As the Labor party has moved more to the centre, the lines between the major parties on issues of infrastructure, trade and manufacturing have blurred, leaving the Nationals on the fringes of politics and silenced by their Liberal alliance.

The Cubbie station proposal is not the only example of the shared aims of the Liberal and Labor parties. Recently the federal Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson called on the states to privatise energy claiming the draft energy white paper had shown continued government ownership of electricity assets made it difficult to attract investment.

These calls were backed by the Opposition energy spokesman, Ian MacFarlane who stated the Coalition would forcefully encourage the states to privatise their electricity networks.

With the Labor party on the wane, the current political landscape offers a massive opportunity for the Nationals to stage a comeback and reclaim rural Australia as a strong opposition rallying community support and providing genuine policy alternatives in key areas of national jobs, manufacturing and industry.