One of the rebels, Hinkler MP Keith Pitt, said cost of living was the biggest issue facing his constituents and local businesses, in particular sugar farmers who were already being squeezed by drought and low commodity prices.
“The Nationals party room overwhelmingly supports the big stick legislation being debated and put up in Parliament,” he said.
Mr Pitt denied the push amounted to a test of Mr McCormack’s leadership.
“It’s not the intention. The intention is to deliver on our promises before the election,” he said.
But another Nationals source said Mr McCormack’s authority was on the line, saying he was failing to manage the gulf between Victorian MPs who had shifted to the left on energy and climate change, and NSW and Queensland Nationals more focused on power prices.
“Queensland is going to sink if we don’t have a better position on energy. [Divestment] is our policy and it needs to be brought forward,” the source said.
Mr McCormack said the six MPs – comprising marginal seat-holders Michelle Landry, George Christensen and Ken O’Dowd, as well as Mr Pitt, Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien and Senator Barry O’Sullivan – were fighting passionately for their communities.
“As always, we will consider these matters again when the Parliament resumes in April,” Mr McCormack said, adding that Labor should stop blocking the legislation.
Mr Morrison said his priorities in the budget sitting week – likely to be the final three days before the election is called – were passing the budget bills and making up to $2 billion available in concessional loans for farmers who lost livestock in the recent devastating north Queensland floods.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Labor was more than happy for the divestment legislation to be brought on for a vote so the opposition could vote against it.
“This is an anti-business, anti-investment, Venezuelan-style socialist intervention from a government which believes in nothing,” he said.
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