THE Liberal Party's Benalla branch is seeking tweaks to the Coalition agreement in the countdown to the federal election when the Coalition partners will be rivals in Indi and Murray.
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The Benalla branch has put forward a motion to the Victorian Liberal state council meeting this weekend that an agreement be based on "reward‐for‐performance" and be negotiated for a single election cycle only.
Under the present agreement, the Nationals receive second spot on the joint Senate ticket, which guaranteed Senator Bridget McKenzie an upper house position in Canberra, and other financial and in-kind backing.
Tensions between the Coalition partners still exist in the North-East following the 2013 federal election when Nationals members openly supported independent Cathy McGowan in Indi.
Liberals were denied the chance to field a candidate in the state seat of Shepparton which the Nationals lost to independent Suzanna Sheed in the 2014 Victorian election.
The Liberals were also upset its candidate in the state seat of Euroa, Tony Schneider, had to play second fiddle to National Steph Ryan during the campaign.
In the upcoming Indi election, Liberal Sophie Mirabella is going up against National Marty Corboy and the Coalition partners will be rivals in Murray with the recent retirement of Liberal Sharman Stone.
The Border Mail has obtained a copy of the Benalla branch motion and background statement on the Liberal state council agenda this weekend.
The background statement reads: "The National Party's electoral results have been declining over the past 20 years and they are providing less value to the Coalition as a result.
"The National Party needs to be accountable for the financial, Senate and ministerial rewards that the Liberal Party gives them.
"An agreement based on electoral performance (e.g. primary vote and preference flows), is the best way to maximise the benefits of a Coalition."
Mr Schneider is the Benalla Liberal branch president.
"The Victorian agreement as it relates to the federal parliament is in abeyance," he said.
"We are just keen to make sure it maximises the value of the Coalition so both parties are contributing to the greater sum.
"We do support the Nats with resources and whatever we think we need to get the job done."
Nationals state director Sally Branson said: "The partnership between the National and Liberal parties has abided since 1989," she said.
"The strength of this agreement has delivered for Victorians right across the state.
"It would be disappointing if this agreement was dissolved in an act of short-term opportunism."
