Fed: National Party minister open to merger talks

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2001
Fed: National Party minister open to merger talks

Federal Agriculture Minister and senior National Party MP WARREN TRUSS has cautiously
welcomed calls for a merger with the Liberal Party.

Mr TRUSS says the National Party has already shown its interest in amalgamation by
initiating merger talks several years ago with the Queensland Liberals.

But he says the Liberals rejected the move.

However, Mr TRUSS says the National Party has served, and continues to serve, regional
and rural Australia well.

He says the current federal coalition arrangement is working well.

The Liberal-National merger has been flagged by Liberal Party president SHANE STONE
in an interview with The Weekend Australian newspaper.

AAP RTV pjo/wz

KEYWORD: COALITION TRUSS (BRISBANE)

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