Clinton Porteous

National Political Correspondent - Capital City Daily 

OPEN warfare erupted between federal Liberal and National figures yesterday in the biggest threat yet to the fledgling LNP as fallout continued from the weekend's interstate elections.

Liberal senator Russell Trood launched a broadside against Nationals leader Warren Truss, accusing him of undermining the new alliance.

"Warren Truss, as a member of the LNP, should exercise some discipline," Senator Russell said. "If senior members of either party begin to unpick it, then it will surely rapidly unravel and we will look like idiots in the community."

The furore came as Nationals senator Batnaby Joyce put his hand up as a potential replacement for Mr Truss. Other senior Liberals accused Mr Truss of treachery after he backed the West Australian Nationals' decision on the weekend to negotiate with Labor to form a minority government.

"It is completely unacceptable that someone who is a senior shadow minister and the leader of one of the two Opposition parties should openly canvass the possibility of the National Party forming coalitions with the Labor Party," one senior Liberal said.

Senator Joyce said the WA Nationals had found a winning formula by separating themselves from the Liberals. He also said he would be happy to be leader but didn't expect it.

"If people were to put you in that position, that would be an incredible honour and I would take the ball and run with it as hard as I could," he told Sky News.

Mr Truss said he did not feel threatened. "Ultimately this is a matter in the hands of my colleagues but I am confident that I have their support," he said.

He said a review was under way into the future of the federal Nationals, with a key meeting set down for late next month when the states would decide on either going it alone, merging or staying in coalition with the Liberals.

Senator Trood said he had reluctantly backed the Queensland merger but now the LNP had to be supported, especially by Mr Truss.