Nationals leader Warren Truss has said the Nationals would consider disbanding the Coalition.

As the Liberals and the Nationals consider a merger in Queensland, Mr Truss said all options were being considered, and “not just merger”.

Asked if he was talking about dismantling the Coalition, Mr Truss repeated that all options were on the table.

Mr Coulton said he was not aware of any plans to disband the Coalition, but admitted some “grassroots members questioned the benefit of being in Coalition”.

“But having been in Canberra, it’s all about numbers,” he said. “The best way I can serve my constituents is to be in government in the soonest available time – and we can’t do that without a Coalition.”

Asked by the Daily Liberal what he would choose, Mr Coulton said he could see a Coalition had “served the people in Parkes well”.

“I’ve got a very big organisation behind me and they would have some influence in that as well,” he said.

The merger in Queensland was not yet definite, he said.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in Queensland and I’m ready to confront every situation and react accordingly.”

However, Mr Coulton believes the Liberals and the Nationals are “probably going to merge”.

“But it’s just what I feel – I've got no involvement there,” he said, noting it would be a “hot topic” at the forthcoming State Nationals conference.

A merger could depend on whether the Nationals retain the Federal seat of Gippsland, vacated by retiring Nationals MP Peter McGauran, Mr Coulton said.

“People are waiting to see what happens,” he said. “If the Nats get good support in Gippsland, they could have the confidence to go alone. But if they lose, it’s one seat less.”

Either way, the Nationals must decide on the idea of a merger, or disbanding the Coalition by Christmas, he said.

“It’s got to happen this year – because by the end of 2009, we could be fighting a Federal election.”

Dubbo Liberal Party branch member Ben Shields believes a merger was necessary.

“A single conservative political force is needed,” he said. “I don’t believe it’s in either parties’ best interest to be doubling up with secretariats and branches.

“If the Nats leave, instantly Liberal candidates would be challenging National candidates.

“One reason the Nats have stayed alive so long is because the seats they win have not had a challenger.”

lynton.grace@rural press.com