Suse,

The federal Nats had precisely zilch input in the implementation of Royalties For Regions. As you are aware, the WA Nats won the balance of power in that election and as such formed govt with the Libs depending on Royalties For Regions being implemented.

It was and is purely a state-based initiative.

Hi Poirot, I know the WA Nationals Party ARE affiliated with the Federal Nationals Party, but I would say neither of us knows exactly how much they do have with each other.
I know the WA Nationals did try to expand the Royalties For Regions initiative to the National level at one stage, so I guess they must have had some dealings then with the Federal National Party.

I have always voted for my local Nationals representative at State elections, and while Abbott was running the ship I always placed the Liberals candidate at the bottom of my voting card....just above The Family First Party, at any election!

I have to say that I remain torn re the coming Federal Election....

I applaud what these senators have done. Quite clearly, Turnbull wants a double dissolution although I don't know why but there is definitely a reason.

To get his double dissolution, he set the opposition and the independent senators up so they could not do anything else but knock it back. By submitting this legislation he has placed these senators in a no win situation. On the one hand if they passed it they would be thrown out at the election by the wrath of the electorate who do not want to have to put up with another election (some people don't want to be free.) By not passing it they would thrown out anyway.

Turnbull has pulled a master stoke because he and the other lot don't want independents or micro parties in the parliament. They want to force the Australian people to vote for tag team a or b. Evidence of this is the above and below the line voting. You can have it the easy or the hard way.

Labour and liberal or just the two wings of the same bird of prey. Guess who the prey is?