I'm NOT making this up, honest!


Nats MP wants One Nation in Coalition
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22949633-29277,00.html?from=public_rss

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

December 19, 2007 06:45pm
Article from: AAP

A NORTH Queensland Nationals MP says One Nation and Family First should be drawn into any merger of the state Coalition.

Mirani MP Ted Malone said the conservative parties must join forces in order to have any chance of winning government at the next election.

Mr Malone said a merger of the Liberal and National parties could serve to split the conservative vote among people who felt left behind.

"All that will happen is we will leave behind some of the conservative voters in Queensland to support other parties that will ultimately divide the vote," he said.

Mr Malone said the parties could work well together, despite their differences.

"These groups of people would actually be a lot closer than the people who represent the Labor party," he said.

"The gambit and spread of policies and interest groups in that segment of our community would be far wider than it would be under a situation where we are representing all conservative forces."

The federal Nationals joined the Liberals last week in announcing a review into their poor electoral performance, while preliminary discussions are underway in Queensland to form a single conservative force.

Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss called on the conservative parties to explore the option of merging, but said a national merger was a "big ask".