If the Nationals had reneged on their commitment to their rural constituents they would be history. Thank God there is someone standing up for rural Australia. Why is the city-based press not talking about the loss of 2.4 billion from rural Australia infrastructure?That is the real issue.

Barnaby Joyce is one of the few who seem to have the conviction to act on behalf of rural Australia. I have been a Lib voter in the past although seeing their rubber back bone on letting the $2b be lost to rural Australia has turned my eyes to the Nationals. Those MPs who did'nt want to be named show what rubber backs the Lib's have.

The Nationals should continue to stand up to the Liberals on matters of principle. The Liberals have taken far too many liberties in the past. Their act of crossing the floor and voting with the Labor Government in abolishing the Single Desk was a supreme act of treachery. The more the Liberals make a song and dance about the Nationals the more that rural voters will distrust the Party for the big end of town.

There were more Liberals that crossed the floor on the communication fund issue in the senate than Nationals so, "what the?" The Liberals need to get their own house in order before they point the finger at anyone else.

You describe Shane Stone as a "heavyweight". To most people he is a very lightweight hasbeen, so why all the fuss?

Turnbull, though a very successful businessman, is really a novice in political terms. He has to realise quickly that he cannot do backflips on policy at a whim and maintain the confidence of the voters. What does the Coalition stand for?

I'm not a blind Barnaby supporter, but, in this instance, he has the political high ground.

The Liberals don't want a coalition. They just wan to set the policies and have the weight of the Nationals votes.

It is time that the Nationals walked away from the coalition and started to identify themselves as a genuine rural based party. They should then prepare to stand candidates in all rural and regional seats and once again become a party of purpose and not be the poor relation of the Liberal party.

Any members who don't want this should resign and join the Liberal party. Let the rest get on and start looking after there constituents.

'Senator Joyce ... who was more interested in stamping a separate brand for the Nationals' ... rightly so. When are the Nationals as a whole going to realise that they are representatives for regional and rural Australia? Which have different basic needs and than metropolitan areas. Rebrand the Nationals to represent all Rural Australians this will drive a wedge through country labour, build greener credentials ... as rural growers infer that they care for their land, stand tall for the people you represent ... this will invigorate the party, prove its relevance to the 21st century and let the liberals squabble amongst themselves ... it's still about people, not power. Keep the foot down Barnaby!

the liberal partry needs to have a long hard look at itself as it appears to me that they are city-based politicians and would rather look after the city constituants and leave the country people in limbo land. Without the nationals the liberals would die - maybe this would be a good thing.

Quite simply, if the Nationals do not represent the voter base that elected them they will vanish. That evidence is already a reality.

The Liberals are weak and not an effective opposition at present. Just look at the industrial relations bill that went through and they voted for it. What about the voters that voted for the coalition? We didn’t want the new union-dominated law but Turnbull supported it. He has deserted the very people who voted for him. Just look at history. McEwen was in coalition with Menzies but he remembered and always supported the constituents. He voted against the coalition on many occasions.

Barnaby is on the right track, the only tune he has to dance to is to his constituents, and that’s what will matter when he and the Nationals reach the next ballot box.

We need representatives to support and represent what we want - not what Stone and Turnbull think we need.

Something else to remember: throughout the world minority political parties representing agriculture are very, very powerful, but invariably seldom form Government.

They commonly hold the balance of power, extract the very best outcomes for their constituents, and enjoy absolute voter support.

If it wasn't for the Nationals, nobody would recall that 'rural Australia' did exist.

During the GST saga, the Democrats didn't listen and act for their constituency. Look what happened to them.

Go Barnaby Joyce, go!

Liberal voters and Nationals voters will want different things from time to time, just like a husband and wife. This doesn't mean they get divorced, does it?

'Toeing the line' will be the kiss of death.