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Shifting sands under National Party
11 Mar 2008
The National Party may have run out of time to reverse the decline in its support levels as population shifts are undermining the party's traditional heartland in rural Australia. From a peak of 23 seats held in 1975, the Nationals have been steadily losing ground and now have only 10 seats. Voters more interested in environmental issues have seen many of the seats lost to Labor, but some have also switched to the Liberals and independents. Nationals leader Warren Truss would bee keenly aware of the problems as his once very safe seat of Wide Bay has gone from an 18.5 per cent margin in 1996 to only 8.5 per cent at the last election.
The Australian, 11/3/2008
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