Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says the Liberal Party, not the Nationals, responsible to defend SPC Ardmona

Updated

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says it was up to the Liberal Party and not the Nationals to defend Australia's last remaining fruit processing plant when it was in financial strife earlier this year.

The Coalition Victorian Government stepped in with a bailout after the Federal Government rejected SPC Ardmona's calls for a $25 million subsidy.

Mr Joyce said SPC in Shepparton was in a seat held by the Liberal Party and that "ultimate responsibility lies with the people who hold the seat".

The seat of Murray has been held by the Liberals' Sharman Stone since 1996 after a three-cornered contest against the Nationals, but for decades it was strong Nationals territory and home to party icon and former leader John McEwen – known as Black Jack.

"The people of that area vote for the Liberal Party. The seat was won fair and square in a three-cornered contest by the Liberal Party and therefore it's fair and square their responsibility," Mr Joyce said after being asked if the Nationals would take up the fight in the Cabinet.

"The issue is it's a little bit odd if we have to discuss in our party room an issue that really belongs to another party."

Mr Joyce did argue the case in the Cabinet room in a meeting with Nationals MPs and senators who wanted the Federal Government to help SPC, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey were not convinced and criticised SPC's approach.

Dr Stone slammed the Cabinet's decision to ignore SPC's calls for financial assistance.

Nationals 'the little brother', Truss says

In a further sign the Nationals have to pick and choose their battles, Mr Joyce pointed to a drought package the Nationals were able to secure.

He said at the same time SPC was in trouble, the Nationals got a $320 million drought package through Cabinet "to make sure that people not just in Shepparton, but across Australia had access to a funding stream".

Nationals leader Warren Truss said it was important for the larger party to recognise what made for a healthy and strong coalition, and that often the best way for the Nationals to get results was through quiet negotiations behind the scenes.

Mr Truss described the National Party as "the little brother who expects some things from the big brother sometimes".

Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser claimed the Nationals had lost the art of how to exercise political leverage and had allowed their image to be swallowed by the Liberals.

He said the Nationals in his period of government, like former leader Doug Anthony, would never have allowed that to happen.

Watch the first episode of the three-part documentary series A Country Road - The Nationals on ABC at 8:30pm on Tuesday.

Topics: nationals, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal---state-issues, liberals, liberal-national-party, australia

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