National Party of Australia

The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party, originally called the Country Party, adopting the name of National Country Party in 1975 and adopting its present name in 1982. It has been the minor party in stable coalitions with the Liberal Party of Australia both federally and in most states, both in government and in opposition since the 1940s. In 2003 the party adopted the name The Nationals for campaigning purposes, reflecting common usage, but its legal name has not changed.

Political role

When a Liberal-National Coalition is in power in a particular parliament, the job of deputy Premier or Prime Minister is usually given to leader of the National Party in that parliament. For instance, the current federal leader, Mark Vaile, is deputy Prime Minister to John Howard. Therefore, when Liberal Prime Minister Harold Holt died in office, his Country Party deputy John McEwen was Prime Minister for a period of weeks while the Liberal Party elected a new leader. In the Queensland state parliament, the National Party has historically been the stronger coalition partner numerically so the converse arrangement applies whenever the two parties are in coalition (currently they are not).

Related Topics:
Mark Vaile - John Howard - Harold Holt - John McEwen - Queensland state parliament

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The National Party's support base and membership are closely associated with the agricultural community. Historically anti-union, the party has vacillated between state support for primary industries ("agrarian socialism") and free agricultural trade and has opposed tariff protection for Australia's manufacturing and service industries. It is usually pro-mining, pro-development, and anti-environmentalist. On social issues, it is generally regarded as the most conservative of Australia's mainstream parties. It strongly supports the nuclear family (and thus opposes many measures recognising non-traditional relationships), opposes much of the agenda of many Aboriginal leaders (including treaties, land rights, and apologies over perceived government mistreatment), and is the only mainstream party that has an official policy opposing an Australian republic. (While John Howard, the current leader of the Liberal Party, opposes an Australian republic, there are many within the Liberal Party who support one).

Related Topics:
Agrarian socialism - John Howard

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The party's membership and support base have been under strain in recent years, being caught between the populist economic and cultural demands of the more socially conservative part of its rural electorate (attracted to the One Nation Party), rising rural support for independents, and the growing strength of the Liberal Party in country areas. Demographic changes have not helped, with fewer people living on the land and in small towns, the continued growth of the larger provincial centres, and in some cases the arrival of left-leaning "city refugees" to rural areas.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~