THERE may be more RM Williams boots than you would expect at gatherings of other political persuasions when the Nationals' federal council meets in Canberra this weekend - but don't call it the farmers' party.
The junior coalition partner is rebadging and regrouping as it seeks to differentiate itself from the Liberals, defend itself against independents and reach out to new voters, including those on the urban fringe, according to an article by Sohpie Morris in The Australian Financial Review on Thursday.
"We're building a party that's more representative of all regional Australians and of all regional Australia, from the outer suburbs and beyond," Nationals' federal director Brad Henderson says.
"Whether you're a single mum, a working family, a pensioner, self-funded retiree, blue-collar worker, small businessperson or farmer, we're building a party that best represents the whole spectrum of regional Australia."
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says that if the party focused on farmers only it faced electoral oblivion. "If we rely solely on farmers you only get that 1.5 per cent or 1 per cent of Australian population who could possibly vote for you," he says.
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