There have been reservations about the policies, including from Liberal free-marketeers who argue divestiture powers represent too much government intervention.

“No matter how they want to dress it up, when our people in the regions are suffering way more than the people in the cities, a few polices that would help them being left on the table isn’t a big ask,” Nationals senator Ross Cadell told the Australian Associated Press.

‘Tongue in cheek’

He didn’t rule out a future leadership tilt, altough added that both he and the majority of the party room supported the Nationals leader “at the moment”.

Nationals MP Michael McCormack (left) and David Littleproud. Source: AAP

But McCormack was critical of Littleproud’s handling of the split, saying he didn’t “think it was the smartest thing to do” while acknowledging the move was backed by the majority of the party room.