Coalition (New South Wales)

{{Short description|Group of centre-right political parties in New South Wales}}

{{Infobox political party

| name = The Coalition

| native_name = Liberal/National Coalition

| logo =

| logo_size =

| caption =

| colorcode = {{party color|Coalition (Australia)}}

| leader1_title = Leader

| leader1_name = Mark Speakman

| leader2_title = Deputy Leader

| leader2_name = Natalie Ward

| founder =

| founded = 1927

| dissolved =

| split =

| predecessor =

| merged =

| successor =

| headquarters =

| newspaper =

| think_tank =

| membership_year =

| membership =

| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|

|Conservatism

|Liberalism

|Liberal conservatism

|Agrarianism

}}

| position = {{Nowrap|Centre-right}}

| slogan =

| anthem =

| blank1_title = Member parties

| blank1 = {{hlist|Liberal|National}}

| national = Federal Coalition

| seats1_title = Legislative Assembly

| seats1 = {{composition bar|35|93|hex={{party color|Coalition (Australia)}}}}

| seats2_title = Legislative Council

| seats2 = {{composition bar|14|42|hex={{party color|Coalition (Australia)}}}}

| colours = {{colour box|{{party colour|Coalition (Australia)}}}} Blue

| website =

| country = Australia

}}

The Liberal/National Coalition, commonly known simply as the Coalition,{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |title=Marriage of inconvenience: Can the NSW Coalition survive life in opposition? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/marriage-of-inconvenience-can-the-nsw-coalition-survive-life-in-opposition-20230509-p5d71f.html |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Publishing |date=10 May 2023 |language=en}} is an alliance of centre-right political parties that forms one of the two major groupings in New South Wales politics. The two partners in the Coalition are the New South Wales Liberal Party and the New South Wales National Party. Its main opponent is the New South Wales Labor Party (ALP); the two forces are often regarded as operating in a two-party system. The Coalition was last in government from 2011 to 2023. The group is led by Mark Speakman, who succeeded Dominic Perrottet after the 2023 state election.

Details

The two parties in the Coalition have different geographical voter bases, with the Liberals – the larger party – drawing most of their vote from urban areas and the Nationals operating almost exclusively in rural and regional areas. They occupy a broadly similar place on the right of the political spectrum.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

The partnership between the two current parties dates back to 1946, shortly after the Liberal Party was formed, and has continued almost uninterrupted since then. The Country Party also maintained similar alliances with the Liberal Party's predecessors, the Democratic Party, the United Australia Party and Nationalist Party.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

The Liberals and Nationals maintain separate organisational wings and separate parliamentary parties, but co-operate in various ways determined by a mixture of formal agreements and informal conventions. There is a single Coalition frontbench, both in government and in opposition, with each party receiving a proportionate number of positions.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

By convention, the leader of the Liberal Party serves as the overall leader, serving as Premier when the Coalition is in government and leader of the opposition when the Coalition is in opposition. The leader of the National Party becomes the deputy premier during periods of Coalition government. The two parties co-operate on their election campaigns, run joint Legislative Council tickets, and generally avoid running candidates against each other in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

A merger of the Liberals and Nationals has been suggested on a number of occasions, but has never become a serious proposition.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

History

A Coalition between the Liberal (and predecessors) and National parties has existed without interruption in New South Wales since 1927. Predecessors of the NSW Liberal Party, including the UAP, Nationalist Party and the Democratic Party, maintained a coalition with the Country Party (old name of National Party).{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

The Liberal Party is led by Mark Speakman and the National Party by Dugald Saunders. The Coalition won the 2011 state election in a massive swing under Barry O'Farrell, the 2015 election with a reduced majority under Mike Baird, and the 2019 election under Gladys Berejiklian. The Coalition led by Dominic Perrottet lost the 2023 state election and is in opposition since.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

New South Wales is the only state where the non-Labor Coalition has never broken, and yet has also never merged. This remained the case even in 2011, when the Liberals won a majority in their own right but still retained the Coalition. On 10 September 2020, the Nationals threatened to move to the crossbench over a dispute regarding koala protection laws,{{cite news |title=NSW Government in turmoil as 'betrayed' Nationals effectively leave Coalition over koala bill |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/nsw-government-crisis-as-john-barilaro-says-nationals-will-leave/12648966 |access-date=10 September 2020 |work=www.abc.net.au |date=10 September 2020 |language=en-AU}} but the issue was resolved the next day and the Nationals remained in the Coalition.{{citation needed|date= April 2024}}

Election results

class="wikitable sortable"
Election ! Seats won ! ± ! Total votes ! % ! Position ! Leader ! Senior party ! Junior party
1927 \|\| {{Composition bar\|46\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{increase}}5 \| \| 47.3% \| {{yes2\|Government}} \|rowspan=2\|Thomas Bavin \| rowspan=2 \| Nationalist \| rowspan=18 \| Country
1930 \| {{Composition bar\|35\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{decrease}}11 \| \| 40.06% \| {{no2\|Opposition}}
1932 \| {{Composition bar\|64\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{increase}}29 \| \| 49.9% \| {{yes2\|Government}} \| rowspan=3 \| Bertram Stevens \| rowspan=4 \| UAP
1935 \| {{Composition bar\|61\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{decrease}}3 \| \| 46.02% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1938 \| {{Composition bar\|61\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{decrease}}2 \| \| 49.6% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1941 \| {{Composition bar\|26\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{decrease}}33 \| \| 31.3% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Alexander Mair
1944 \| {{Composition bar\|22\|90\|hex=#6482BF}} \| {{decrease}}4 \| 371,560 \| 29.32% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Reginald Weaver \| Democratic
1947 \| {{Composition bar\|34\|90\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}12 \| 647,753 \| 40.75% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| rowspan=3 \| Vernon Treatt \| rowspan=24 \| Liberal
1950 \| {{Composition bar\|46\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}12 \| 749,001 \| 46.48% \| {{no2\|Opposition}}
1953 \| {{Composition bar\|36\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}10 \| 612,419 \| 39.54% \| {{no2\|Opposition}}
1956 \| {{Composition bar\|42\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}6 \| 783,362 \| 46.25% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| rowspan=2 \| Pat Morton
1959 \| {{Composition bar\|44\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}2 \| 603,718 \| 44.06% \| {{no2\|Opposition}}
1962 \| {{Composition bar\|39\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}5 \| 852,356 \| 44.22% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| rowspan=5 \| Bob Askin
1965 \| {{Composition bar\|47\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}8 \| 1,016,694 \| 49.82% \| style="background-color:#CCCCFF" \|Minority Government
1968 \| {{Composition bar\|53\|94\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}6 \| 1,061,170 \| 49.06% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1971 \| {{Composition bar\|49\|96\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}4 \| 993,310 \| 44.39% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1973 \| {{Composition bar\|52\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}3 \| 1,104,829 \| 44.33% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1976 \| {{Composition bar\|48\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}4 \| 1,249,489 \| 46.32% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Eric Willis
1978 \| {{Composition bar\|35\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}13 \| 1,031,780 \| 36.88% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Peter Coleman \| rowspan=2 \| National Country
1981 \| {{Composition bar\|28\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}7 \| 1,090,304 \| 38.83% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Bruce McDonald
1984 \| {{Composition bar\|37\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}9 \| 1,292,996 \| 43.00% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| rowspan=3 \| Nick Greiner \| rowspan=11 \| National
1988 \| {{Composition bar\|59\|109\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}22 \| 1,588,095 \| 49.54% \| {{yes2\|Government}}
1991 \| {{Composition bar\|49\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}10 \| 1,377,314 \| 44.68% \| style="background-color:#CCCCFF" \|Minority Government
1995 \| {{Composition bar\|46\|99\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}3 \| 1,500,068 \| 43.94% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| John Fahey
1999 \| {{Composition bar\|33\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}13 \| 1,258,711 \| 33.69% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Kerry Chikarovski
2003 \| {{Composition bar\|32\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}1 \| 1,312,892 \| 34.35% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| John Brogden
2007 \| {{Composition bar\|35\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}3 \| 1,457,296 \| 36.99% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Peter Debnam
2011 \| {{Composition bar\|69\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{increase}}34 \| 2,124,321 \| 51.15% \| {{yes2\|Government}} \| Barry O'Farrell
2015 \| {{Composition bar\|54\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}15 \| 2,009,821 \| 45.63% \| {{yes2\|Government}} \| Mike Baird
2019 \|{{Composition bar\|48\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}6 \| 1,892,816 \| 41.58% \| {{yes2\|Government}} \| Gladys Berejiklian
2023 \|{{Composition bar\|36\|93\|hex={{party color\|Liberal Party of Australia}}}} \| {{decrease}}12 \| 1,663,215 \| 35.37% \| {{no2\|Opposition}} \| Dominic Perrottet

class="wikitable sortable"

Election

! Seats won

! ±

! Total votes

! %

! Position

! Leader

! Senior party

! Junior party

1927

|| {{Composition bar|46|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{increase}}5

| 47.3%

| {{yes2|Government}}

|rowspan=2|Thomas Bavin

| rowspan=2 | Nationalist

| rowspan=18 | Country

1930

| {{Composition bar|35|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{decrease}}11

| 40.06%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1932

| {{Composition bar|64|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{increase}}29

| 49.9%

| {{yes2|Government}}

| rowspan=3 | Bertram Stevens

| rowspan=4 | UAP

1935

| {{Composition bar|61|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{decrease}}3

| 46.02%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1938

| {{Composition bar|61|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{decrease}}2

| 49.6%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1941

| {{Composition bar|26|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{decrease}}33

| 31.3%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Alexander Mair

1944

| {{Composition bar|22|90|hex=#6482BF}}

| {{decrease}}4

| 371,560

| 29.32%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Reginald Weaver

| Democratic

1947

| {{Composition bar|34|90|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}12

| 647,753

| 40.75%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| rowspan=3 | Vernon Treatt

| rowspan=24 | Liberal

1950

| {{Composition bar|46|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}12

| 749,001

| 46.48%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1953

| {{Composition bar|36|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}10

| 612,419

| 39.54%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1956

| {{Composition bar|42|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}6

| 783,362

| 46.25%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| rowspan=2 | Pat Morton

1959

| {{Composition bar|44|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}2

| 603,718

| 44.06%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1962

| {{Composition bar|39|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}5

| 852,356

| 44.22%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| rowspan=5 | Bob Askin

1965

| {{Composition bar|47|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}8

| 1,016,694

| 49.82%

| style="background-color:#CCCCFF" |Minority Government

1968

| {{Composition bar|53|94|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}6

| 1,061,170

| 49.06%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1971

| {{Composition bar|49|96|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}4

| 993,310

| 44.39%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1973

| {{Composition bar|52|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}3

| 1,104,829

| 44.33%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1976

| {{Composition bar|48|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}4

| 1,249,489

| 46.32%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Eric Willis

1978

| {{Composition bar|35|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}13

| 1,031,780

| 36.88%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Peter Coleman

| rowspan=2 | National Country

1981

| {{Composition bar|28|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}7

| 1,090,304

| 38.83%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Bruce McDonald

1984

| {{Composition bar|37|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}9

| 1,292,996

| 43.00%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| rowspan=3 | Nick Greiner

| rowspan=11 | National

1988

| {{Composition bar|59|109|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}22

| 1,588,095

| 49.54%

| {{yes2|Government}}

1991

| {{Composition bar|49|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}10

| 1,377,314

| 44.68%

| style="background-color:#CCCCFF" |Minority Government

1995

| {{Composition bar|46|99|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}3

| 1,500,068

| 43.94%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| John Fahey

1999

| {{Composition bar|33|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}13

| 1,258,711

| 33.69%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Kerry Chikarovski

2003

| {{Composition bar|32|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}1

| 1,312,892

| 34.35%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| John Brogden

2007

| {{Composition bar|35|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}3

| 1,457,296

| 36.99%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Peter Debnam

2011

| {{Composition bar|69|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{increase}}34

| 2,124,321

| 51.15%

| {{yes2|Government}}

| Barry O'Farrell

2015

| {{Composition bar|54|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}15

| 2,009,821

| 45.63%

| {{yes2|Government}}

| Mike Baird

2019

|{{Composition bar|48|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}6

| 1,892,816

| 41.58%

| {{yes2|Government}}

| Gladys Berejiklian

2023

|{{Composition bar|36|93|hex={{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}}}

| {{decrease}}12

| 1,663,215

| 35.37%

| {{no2|Opposition}}

| Dominic Perrottet

References

Category:Political party alliances in Australia

Category:Conservatism in Australia

Category:Liberalism in Australia

Category:Liberal Party of Australia

Category:National Party of Australia