That question is one that has often been pondered by political aficionados in Australia.

In theory, the Nationals are meant to be the voice of the country, standing up for regional areas taken for granted or misunderstood by Liberal and Labor party representatives.

Complicating the picture, the Nationals at a state and federal level are in a coalition with the Liberals.

That means deals are done over which party is allowed to stand a candidate in an election.

The latest example of that is the looming by-election for the NSW seat of Wagga Wagga, a contest initiated by incumbent ex-Liberal Daryl Maguire facing a corruption investigation.

Mr Maguire announced his resignation at the weekend after political pressure and community opprobrium.

Nationals had been openly preparing to contest a by-election with two Wagga men Rory McKenzie and Julian McLaren, confirming to The Daily Advertiser they would nominate for preselection.

Then bang the Nationals announce they won’t contest the by-election.

Apparently, jockeying over the Coalition’s NSW Senate ticket for the next federal election is behind the Nationals’ decision.

Certainly machinations behind the scenes have driven the outcome.

Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian noted the seat of Wagga had been in Liberal hands since 1957.

That fails to take account of the fact that traditionally when a Liberal incumbent departs, the Nationals are given the opportunity to compete for the seat.

Indeed in 1999 when Mr Maguire was elected, his share of the primary vote (26.3 per cent) was only marginally above the Nationals candidate (22.9 per cent).

The Nats should be standing in Wagga to differentiate themselves from the Libs.

They do not have a taint derived from Mr Maguire’s behaviour and voters deserve to be given the choice of conservative parties in such circumstances.