Nationals vote holds steady. Will the Coalition become a party of the regions and outer suburbs?

By Gregory Melleuish, Professor, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong

The most amazing thing about the election was the very low primary vote for the ALP and the Liberal Party.

The Liberal Party has lost seats to both Labor and the “teal” independents.

But the National Party has lost no seats (although Flynn is still very close) and its vote has declined only marginally. The problem with calculating swings for or against the Nationals is that candidates in Queensland stand…

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