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Coalition (Victoria)

Liberal–National Coalition
Liberal leaderBrad Battin
Nationals leaderDanny O'Brien
Founded12 February 2008; 16 years ago (12 February 2008)
(most recent iteration)
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing
Member partiesLiberal Party
National Party
Former member partiesUnited Australia Party
(1932–35; 1943–45)
Liberal Party (original)
(1945–48)
Legislative Assembly
28 / 88
Legislative Council
13 / 49

The Liberal–National Coalition, commonly known simply as the Coalition, is an alliance of centre-right political parties that forms one of the two major groupings in Victorian politics.[2] The two partners in the Coalition are the Liberal Party and the National Party (the latter previously known as the Country Party and the United Country Party).[a]

The Coalition's main opponent is the Australian Labor Party (ALP), which has been the dominant political party in Victoria since the 1999 state election.[6] The Coalition last governed Victoria between 2010 and 2014, and as of 2025, it serves as the opposition with Brad Battin as Liberal leader and Danny O'Brien as Nationals leader.[7]

History

Origins and UAP–UCP coalitions

See also: United Australia Party – Victoria

The Victorian Country Party was formed on 23 September 1930 as the United Country Party (UCP) following a merger between the original Country Party (linked to the Victorian Farmers' Union) and the Country Progressive Party.[8][9] The other major non-Labor party at the time, the Nationalist Party, was renamed to the United Australia Party (UAP) on 15 September 1931.[10][11]

At the 1932 state election, the UAP won 31 seats, just shy of the 33 needed for a majority.[12][13] Following the election, the UAP formed a coalition with the UCP, with several UCP MPs serving in the ministry.[14][15] UAP leader Sir Stanley Argyle was sworn in as Premier, replacing Labor's Edmond Hogan.[16][17]

At a meeting of the UCP's Central Council and its parliamentary members on 19 March 1935, the sudden decision was taken to end the coalition after Argyle refused to give the UCP additional ministerial portfolios.[18][19] Argyle was forced to form a new ministry composed entirely of UAP members, accusing the UCP of double-crossing and betraying the UAP.[20][21]

The UCP served in government, led by Albert Dunstan, beginning on 2 April 1935 after the Argyle government was defeated in parliament.[22][23] The UAP was reduced to 13 seats after the 1943 state election.[24][25] Labor gave the UCP support until following the 1943 state election, when the UAP gave supply.[26][27] In September 1943, the Dunstan government was briefly defeated and Labor leader John Cain sworn in as premier, but Dunstan soon returned days after the UCP formed a coalition government with the UAP.[28][29]

LCP formation and continued split

The Victorian UAP branch and its parliamentary members joined the newly-formed Liberal Party on 5 March 1945, with the state parliamentary UAP becoming the state parliamentary Liberal Party, prior to the national UAP being absorbed into the Liberal Party of Australia in October 1945.[30][31]

The 1947 state election resulted in the Liberal–Country coalition wining a substaintial majority of 47 seats, with Liberal leader Thomas Hollway becoming Premier and Country leader John McDonald becoming Deputy Premier.[32][33] This arrangement existed until 3 December 1948, when the Country ministers resigned and returned to sitting in opposition.[34][35]

In March 1949, the Liberal Party formed a new Liberal and Country Party (LCP) as part of an attempt to unite both parties.[36] Six Country MPs joined the LCP, but the Country Party rejected the idea, claiming it was an attempt to eliminate the party from Victorian politics.[37]

Coalition return

The LCP (renamed to the Liberal Party in 1964) and the Country Party (renamed to the National Party in 1975) continued contesting elections separately for around 40 years.[38][39] This was until 1990, when the parties agreed to establish a formal coalition.[40][41] Under the leadership of Liberal leader Jeff Kennett, the Coalition defeated Labor in the 1992 state election and again in 1996.[42][43]

Following the Labor Party's win at the Frankston East state supplementary election, which meant they would win the 1999 state election, Pat McNamara resigned as Nationals leader.[44] Peter Ryan was elected as the new leader, and announced he would dissolve the Coalition, re-establishing the Nationals as a standalone party on the crossbench.[45][46]

After suffering election losses to Labor in 2002 and 2006, the Liberals and Nationals re-established their alliance on 12 February 2008.[47] The Coalition won the 2010 state election but lost office after a single term in 2014.[48][49]

Following further state election losses in 2018 and 2022, The Age reported that some Nationals MPs were prepared to push for the end of the Coalition, although this did not eventuate.[50]

Notes

  1. ^ The Country Party was officially known as the United Country Party (UCP) from September 1930 until March 1947, although it was still commonly referred to as the "Country Party".[3][4][5]

References

  1. ^ Savage, Alison (7 October 2014). "Victorian Government vows to create 200,000 new jobs over five years". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  2. ^ Cassidy, Barrie; Savage, Alison (28 November 2014). "Cue the blame game if the Coalition loses in Victoria". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  3. ^ "UNITED COUNTRY PARTY". Sunraysia Daily. 30 October 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  4. ^ Dunstan, Albert (7 November 1945). "COUNTRY PARTY". The Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  5. ^ "LIBERAL−CP POLL TALKS". The Herald. 26 March 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Daniel Andrews the dominant political figure of his generation". The Age. 27 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  7. ^ Beaumont, Adrian (16 June 2023). "Woeful Victorian poll for state Coalition; Victoria and NSW to lose federal seats as WA gains". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ^ "THE NEW FOR THE OLD V.F.U. BECOMES V.C.P." Wodonga and Towong Sentinel. 25 March 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  9. ^ "A United Country Party". The West Australian. 24 September 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  10. ^ "NEW NAME ADOPTED". The Argus. 16 September 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Change of Name in Victoria". The Canberra Times. 16 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Crushing Labor Defeat". Portland Guardian. 16 May 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  13. ^ "THE THIRTY-FIRST PARLIAMENT ELECTED 14 MAY 1932". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  14. ^ "U.A.P.-COUNTRY PARTY COALITION". The Albany Advertiser. 19 May 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  15. ^ "VICTORIAN MINISTRY SWORN IN YESTERDAY". The Corowa Free Press. 20 May 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  16. ^ "BIG UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY SUCCESS". Gippsland Times. 16 May 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  17. ^ "MR. MENZIES DEPUTY PREMIER". Shepparton Advertiser. 16 June 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  18. ^ "MAY BE DEFEATED: Argyle Nationalist Government". The Australian Worker. 20 March 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  19. ^ Shaw, A.G.L. Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle (1867–1940). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  20. ^ "U.C.P. Ministers Withdraw". Warwick Daily News. 21 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  21. ^ "Victorian Crises". The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. 23 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  22. ^ "LABOR PROMISES TO SUPPORT COUNTRY PARTY". Recorder. 1 April 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Majority Assured". The Courier Mail. 14 October 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  24. ^ "DUNSTAN'S MAJORITY ASSURED". Daily Mirror. 14 June 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  25. ^ "DUNSTAN GOVERNMENT RETURNED". Corryong Courier. 17 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  26. ^ Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan (1882–1950). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  27. ^ "JOINT STATE CABINET MOVE TODAY". The Herald. 26 August 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  28. ^ "DUNSTAN TO BE PREMIER AGAIN". The Newcastle Sun. 15 September 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Dunstan Again Premier of Victoria". Daily Examiner. 17 September 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  30. ^ "STATE UAP AND LIBERAL PARTY". The Argus. 5 March 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  31. ^ "STATE UAP NOW LIBERAL PARTY". The Argus. 6 March 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  32. ^ "COALITION GOVT. CERTAIN". Daily Advertiser. 12 November 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  33. ^ "COALITION LEADERS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 12 November 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  34. ^ ""C.P. COULD NOT STAND DICTATION": McDONALD". The Sun News-Pictorial. 7 December 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  35. ^ "Mr McDonald re-opens the door". The Argus. 24 December 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  36. ^ "BIRTH OF COMBINED PARTY". The Mercury. 23 March 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  37. ^ "LIBERAL AND COUNTRY PARTY COMES INTO EXISTENCE". Advocate. 23 March 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  38. ^ "Bolte agrees to Country Party demands for support". The Canberra Times. 28 October 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  39. ^ "Robust and Resilient" (PDF). NSW Nationals. July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  40. ^ "Victorian coalition planned for January". The Canberra Times. 1 May 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  41. ^ "New deputy for Vic Liberal Party". The Canberra Times. 31 July 1990. p. 5. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  42. ^ "Liberal/National Coalition Wins Government in Victoria". Torres News. 9–15 October 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  43. ^ "1996 Victorian State Election – Final Results". AustralianPolitics.com. 30 March 1996. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  44. ^ Lindsay, Nicole (17 December 1999). "Vic by-election tipped after Nats leader quits". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  45. ^ Johnston, Chris (27 November 2006). "Attack the best defence for Ryan. Thanks, Cicero". The Age. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  46. ^ Tomazin, Farrah (10 December 2010). "Straight shooter". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  47. ^ Rood, David (12 February 2008). "Libs, Nats revive coalition". The Age. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  48. ^ Austin, Paul (16 December 2010). "The figures point to electoral wilderness for Victorian Labor". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  49. ^ Beaumont, Adrian (30 November 2014). "Labor wins Victorian election but watch for upper house chaos". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  50. ^ Smethurst, Annika (16 June 2023). "Is it time for the Victorian Coalition to file for divorce?". The Age. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_(Victoria)