A torrid affair?

So while he and Katter have certainly shown their differences, Joyce is well and truly the most likely National candidate to be lured to any breakaway party.

With Joyce was making waves for the Coalition over the sale of Telstra, as well as industrial relations reform, he even managed to elicit gruff looks from National MP Ron Boswell, one of his staunchest allies.

Joyce makes his views known, resulting in a rosy reception at home in his own electorate, but often generating a less than enthused reaction from his Liberal and National colleagues.

But what kind of a party could Katter create?

A coalition of scattered independents, disaffected Nationals and the odd Family First candidate would result in … what exactly?

The most likely result would be a brand of radical conservatism combined with the values of heartland Australia, with a dash of Christian rhetoric thrown in for good measure.

The party would inevitably place its emphasis on rural issues, pushing issues such as an ethanol mandate and support for the agricultural sector - precisely the wheelbarrow Katter has been keen to push all along.

Katter has always enjoyed strong support in his electorate of Kennedy; indeed, in the last elections everyone bar the Nationals was convinced he would hold on to his throne, which he managed to do despite waves of bad press. Northerners love an underdog, and the more tribulations faced by their candidate, the more popular he becomes. Most northern political commentators are convinced Katter can hold his seat for life if he so chooses.

The merger was set to fail - such a torrid affair with so much opposition and very little compromise on behalf of the Liberals, seemed doomed to result in a quickie divorce.

In many ways it does answer one key question that has dogged Katter for many years - was he the one who abandoned the Nationals (or was that the Country Party?), or was he abandoned by the Nationals through a change in political direction?

Or was he in fact, abandoned by the New Liberals all along?