The junior partner with a veto: Australia's unique political power dynamic

Cultures · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In Australian politics, the National Party often punches above its weight as a smaller coalition partner. By leveraging rural interests and strategic alliances, they secured a tradition where their leader serves as deputy prime minister—effectively holding an informal veto over national policy for decades.

The National Party (originally the Country Party) was founded in 1920 to represent 'primary producers' like farmers and graziers. While small farmers initially sought government intervention through price supports, wealthy conservative graziers provided the political muscle that pushed the party toward a right-wing stance. This unique composition allowed them to become a kingmaker in Australian politics early on. In 1922, they forced an 'unusually stiff' arrangement with the Nationalists: despite being the junior partner, the Country Party leader demanded five cabinet seats out of eleven, including the Treasurer portfolio. This established the enduring tradition of the Nationals' leader serving as deputy prime minister.

The party reached its zenith under John McEwen, nicknamed 'Black Jack,' who served from 1949 to 1958 and remained a dominant force until his retirement in 1966. McEwen wielded significant power, famously insisting on the right to veto government policy to protect rural interests. He personally supervised major trade treaties with Japan, New Zealand, and the USSR in 1965, while championing 'McEwenism'—a system of tariff protections designed to add value to Australia's primary produce. His influence was so great that he once forced the Liberal leader to sack a minister over concerns regarding Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Despite this history of power, demographic shifts since the 1970s have challenged the party's dominance. As urban populations in places like Sydney surged by 34% between 1971 and 1996 while rural areas grew by only 13%, the Nationals struggled to maintain their base. This led to a name change in 1975 to 'National Country Party' to court urban voters, though success was limited. Today, the party remains tightly integrated with the Liberal Party in a coalition that has never governed with Labor as of 2025, even as proposals for a formal merger continue to surface.

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