Coalition Negotiations Resume as Turnbull Slams Nationals' 'Unreasonable' Demands

Liberal and National party negotiators met Thursday to discuss reforming their coalition agreement, with early reports suggesting progress despite fierce criticism from former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who accused the Nationals of "holding a gun to the head of the Liberals."

Nationals member for Gippsland Darren Chester said media reports indicated "a positive meeting so far with our Liberal colleagues," expressing optimism that a coalition agreement could be reached in coming days.

"I genuinely believe that for the future of rural and regional Australia, our best opportunity is, obviously, if we're in government, and the only way we can be in government is in partnership with the Liberal Party," Chester told Sky News Australia.

The negotiations follow a turbulent week that saw the coalition partners at loggerheads over four key policy demands from the Nationals, including lifting the nuclear energy moratorium, establishing a $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund, strengthening universal service obligations for mobile phone coverage, and implementing competition policy measures against supermarket dominance.

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