Politics tamfitronics
With two weeks left of one of the most lopsided parliaments in Western Australia’s history, the wheels appear to be falling off the opposition alliance.
Infighting between the unhappily married WA Liberal and Nationals parties is nothing new.
But as shots were fired over gun laws this week, some opposition MPs were scratching and shaking their heads, wondering why they were pointing fingers at each other, rather than at Labor.
What’s the issue?
It all centres around the state Labor government’s firearm laws, which make it harder to get licences, including by requiring stronger evidence of why guns are needed.
The Nationals have always outright opposed the laws, while Liberal MPs have been more split, with some voting in favour, others opposed, and some abstaining from a vote.
The Nationals are opposed to the proposed gun laws given their base is largely made up of farmers. (ABC Landline: Kristy O’Brien)
The Liberal party’s inconsistent voting could be explained by the fact some MPs represent rural parts of the state while others represent the inner city.
The party would also be cognisant of the fact that the horrific Floreat shootings earlier this year happened in Churchlands — their most sought-after seat at next year’s election.
Meanwhile, it is hardly surprising that the Nationals vehemently opposed the laws given their base is largely made up of farmers, and people who grew up on or around farms.
Running into Labor’s trap
Last week Opposition Leader Shane Love reportedly told attendees at a firearms and fisheries information session in Bunbury that the Nationals would not form a coalition government with the WA Liberals if the parties couldn’t agree on repealing Labor’s firearms laws.
Shane Love has reportedly warned failure to agree on repealing firearms laws could prevent the Nationals from forming a coalition government with the WA Liberals. (ABC South West: Rhiannon Shine)
That prompted Liberal leader Libby Mettam to hold a press conference this week in which she declared her party would not be “horse trading” or “doing deals” with the Nationals ahead of the election.
She condemned the Nationals for taking “the wrong approach”and then urged them “to rule out forming government with Labor”.
The remarks prompted a swift rebuke from Mr Love — who Ms Mettam has near daily meetings with.
“The idea that the Nationals WA would form government with the Labor Party is, quite frankly, bizarre,” he said.
Libby Mettam has lashed out at the Nationals for taking what she’s called “the wrong approach”. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
MPs within both National and Liberal party ranks also found it frustrating that the two parties were running straight into a Labor trap that played out exactly as expected.
Labor, entirely predictably, launched on the opportunity to taunt the opposition over their bickering throughout Question Time.
Minister Paul Papalia gleefully told journalists that the only disappointing thing about Ms Mettam’s ‘no deals’ press conference was that so few people would have seen it due to the fact the US election was on.
Are the Libs and Nats headed for divorce?
So where does this all leave the opposition alliance just four months out from the state election?
Nowhere new, really.
They will continue to tolerate each other for the rest of the parliamentary year, before the gloves come fully off as both parties seek to win seats off each other in March.
In the event the two parties were in a position to form a coalition government, they would likely have to negotiate deals — as has happened in the past.
Their chances of pulling off that kind of political comeback, after being reduced to just six seats between them in 2021, remain slim.
But keeping their infighting out of the spotlight and pointing any accusatory fingers at Labor, rather than each other, will help.
