Former Deputy PM Tells Liberal Colleagues to ‘Take Cold Shower’ Over One Nation Competition
Nationals MP Michael McCormack backs PNG defence treaty as coalition partners navigate internal turmoil, says voters want cost-of-living focus not party disputes
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack advised Liberal colleagues to “take a really deep breath or take a really cold shower” when dealing with competition from One Nation and other right-wing parties, as internal coalition tensions continue ahead of Parliament’s return this week.
The Nationals MP, speaking on ABC Afternoon Briefing today, offered perspective from a party that has successfully navigated similar challenges while the Liberals grapple with policy divisions following their devastating May election loss.
“Politics is not easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it,” McCormack said when asked about advice for Liberals concerned about erosion of their supporter base to parties on the right. “And the National Party, over the course of the past six elections, have won all of our seats. We’ve turned up under four different leaders and we’ve won all of our seats.”
The comments come as Andrew Hastie resigned from the Shadow Home Affairs portfolio Friday over immigration policy disagreements with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, joining backbenchers Jacinta Nampajinpa Price and Barnaby Joyce calling for different positions on net zero emissions targets.
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
Time Limit on Introspection
Acting Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson warned today that post-election introspection “cannot go on forever,” while Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash described Ley as having “one of the hardest jobs in history” after taking over following “one of the most devastating election losses of all times.”
Deputy Liberal Leader Ted O’Brien told the Today Show that internal debate, while “a bit messy,” represents “democracy at work” and “the way you get good policy.”
McCormack acknowledged the difficulty of Ley’s position while emphasizing the need to move beyond internal discussions.
“Sussan Ley has got a difficult job, she’s my neighbouring Member of Parliament, I’ve known Susan for a quarter of a century and she’s doing the best job that she can do,” McCormack said. “It’s not easy when you’ve got such a landslide victory by Labor in May and of course then you’ve got all these internal ructions.”
Test Cricket, Not Twenty20
The former deputy prime minister characterized the coalition’s path back to government as requiring patience and thorough analysis rather than quick fixes.
“We’re playing test cricket. We’re not playing 2020,” McCormack said. “It’s a long game we have to play. And these things do take time because you’ve got to do the proper analysis, whether it’s net zero, whether it’s in fact the various reviews the parties do after an election loss.”
He pushed back against expectations of rapid policy resolutions.
“It’s not a McDonald’s drive-through. People can’t just expect that they just turn up at the window and get the policy they want. It is a slow process,” McCormack said, before adding: “Let’s just hope it’s not a slow burn.”
Formula for Electoral Success
McCormack outlined the Nationals’ approach to maintaining seats despite competition from minor parties, emphasizing consistent constituent engagement over election-cycle politicking.
“You’ve got to do the work, not just six weeks out from an election, but you’ve got to do it all year round,” he said. “You’ve got to get out there in city electorates, at train stations and church fetes and sporting events and school speech nights, and turn up and turn up and turn up and listen to people. Not talk at them, listen to people.”
The strategy has delivered results across six elections under four different National Party leaders, McCormack noted, contrasting with the Liberals’ current struggles.
He cited Queensland’s recent state election, where the LNP won back government despite Labor previously holding a 71-seat majority, as evidence that large deficits can be overcome.
“So it can happen. It can swing back,” McCormack said. “You’ve got to be optimistic in politics. You’ve got to be the eternal optimist, and I am, always have been. I think we can turn this around with the right suite of policies, but we’ve got to talk about the issues that matter to people, not ourselves.”
Cost-of-Living Focus
McCormack repeatedly emphasized that voters care more about immediate economic pressures than internal party debates.
“Out there in voter land they just want the issues that are besetting them to be addressed. Energy prices, petrol prices, grocery prices,” he said. “That’s the sort of thing that people out in the electorates all across the country are desperately worried about.”
He painted a stark picture of constituent hardship.
“There are people sleeping in cars. There are people who can’t get a roof over their head. There are people who cannot afford to put the heater on in winter and the air conditioner on in summer because of the 39% increase in power bills we’ve seen under Labor,” McCormack said.
“And they don’t want us to be talking about ourselves, they want us to be talking about the issues that matter most to them,” he added.
PNG Treaty Support
Despite coalition tensions, McCormack expressed strong support for the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty signed today by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape.
“I do think it’s a positive development,” McCormack said when asked about greater interoperability and potential PNG permanent residents serving in the Australian Defence Force.
He framed Pacific engagement as strategically essential.
“We need to be very close, as close as we’ve ever been to the Pacific nations at the moment because of the obvious threats. It’s a very contested space,” McCormack said.
The former Defence Personnel Minister revealed he discussed implementation details with Pacific Affairs Minister Pat Conroy in Parliament’s corridors.
“I was just talking to Minister Pat Conroy in the corridor actually about what it could mean for Kapooka, whether or not we’re going to get more soldiers from PNG, training them and doing the recruit process through my home army base at Wagga Wagga,” McCormack said.
Historical Connections
McCormack emphasized World War II bonds between Australia and Papua New Guinea beyond the 50-year independence relationship Albanese referenced.
“I know Prime Minister Albanese said a 50-year history. Well, it goes beyond that. It’s the fuzzy-wuzzy angels in World War II. Those dedicated, committed men who saved Australia,” McCormack said. “Let’s not beat around the bush. They actually helped save Australia from the Japanese threat.”
He welcomed the treaty’s finalization.
“It’s about time. We should have done it a little while ago,” McCormack said, before urging: “Now, let’s work on the Vanuatu agreement.”
Criticism Timing
When asked if the coalition criticized the government too quickly when the treaty signing didn’t occur during PNG’s 50th independence celebrations in Port Moresby last month, McCormack acknowledged partisan realities.
“Put the boot on the other foot and imagine if it had been us. They would have been jumping up and down. The media would have been on our tails,” he said.
He noted PNG Prime Minister Marape attended last night’s NRL grand final in Brisbane, referencing the nation’s unique status.
“They love their rugby league. It’s the only nation in the world that has rugby league as its national sport. So it’s timely, it’s good and I’m not going to criticise it,” McCormack said.
He also endorsed Pacific rugby league expansion.
“I even think getting a Pacifica team in the National Rugby League competition is a good thing,” McCormack said.
Coalition Dynamics
The Nationals MP acknowledged the Liberal Party turmoil inevitably affects their coalition partnership.
“Of course there is going to be feedback,” McCormack said when asked if Liberal infighting damages the Nationals’ public standing.
He noted multiple processes underway within the Liberal Party.
“There’s a Liberal Party review of the election process. They’ve got their own net zero process, which they’re working through. And these will take time,” McCormack said.
Despite the coalition holding just 51 seats against Labor’s majority, McCormack emphasized the need to focus on governance rather than internal disputes.
“Sometimes politicians come to Canberra and forget that they are representing the entire nation. And we need to be discussing those things,” he said.
He acknowledged the parliamentary reality facing the opposition.
“We’ve got a 51 seat deficit. And, of course, anything Labor wants to get through, they will just push it through the House of Representatives and then hope to buddy up with the Greens in the Senate. So it is difficult at the moment,” McCormack said.
Party Room Discussions
McCormack came to the interview directly from the National Party room, where MPs discussed upcoming legislation.
“We were discussing the various pieces of legislation coming forward and seeing how it can work for the benefit of all Australians. Not just the electorates that we serve, but all Australians,” he said.
The emphasis on governing for the entire nation rather than narrow partisan interests reflected McCormack’s broader message about focusing beyond internal party concerns.
International Engagement
Beyond the PNG treaty, McCormack identified other foreign policy priorities requiring attention.
“We need to get that meeting, obviously, with President Trump. These are important things on the international stage,” he said.
He noted PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph will now travel to Beijing, Indonesia and the United States to explain the treaty to regional partners.
“These are good things,” McCormack said of the diplomatic outreach.
Backbench Perspective
McCormack’s comments carry particular weight given his experience across different roles, from backbencher to Deputy Prime Minister and back to the backbench.
When asked where he could be more influential in pushing policy positions, McCormack deflected to focus on the work itself rather than positioning.
The interview highlighted ongoing coalition tensions as Parliament prepares to return, with Hastie’s resignation adding another conservative voice to the backbench alongside Nampajinpa Price and Joyce pushing for policy changes on climate and immigration.
McCormack’s advice to take deep breaths or cold showers captured the frustration of managing internal divisions while trying to present a united front against Labor’s governing majority, even as he maintained optimism about the coalition’s eventual prospects for returning to government.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!