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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Anne Davies

In the event of a hung parliament, one wildcard has been largely overlooked – the Nationals

Nationals MPs and senators Barnaby Joyce, David Littleproud and Matt Canavan.
Nationals MPs and senators Barnaby Joyce, David Littleproud and Matt Canavan. The Nationals and the Liberals could pull in different directions over climate and the environment in the event of a hung parliament. Composite: Guardian Design/EPA/AAP

If the Coalition wins the election, it will face a concerted push from its junior partner, the Nationals, to weaken and even abandon climate initiatives and promote coal as an interim measure in the Coalition’s nuclear power plan.

That would put Peter Dutton and the Liberals between a rock and a hard place should he seek to form a minority government, given that might require the support of environmentally minded crossbenchers.

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