Election 2016: Bill Shorten calls for a new Liberal-National Coalition deal to be made public

July 12 2016 - 11:49AM

Tom McIlroy
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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has demanded a revised Coalition agreement between the Liberal Party and Nationals be made public, a day after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the conditions should be kept secret.

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Secret deals are suspicious: Shorten

The Opposition leader calls for Malcolm Turnbull to reveal any deals he makes as the PM begins the process of putting together his cabinet. Courtesy ABC News 24.

On Sunday, Mr Joyce said the Nationals would "drive a hard bargain" with Mr Turnbull as the Coalition looked likely to scrape home with only 76 or 77 seats in the House of Representatives.

"The first aspiration is the agreement remains confidential," Mr Joyce said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Photo: Christopher Pearce

"That's aspiration one, two, three, four, five and six. We always have a written agreement so there are never any arguments later about what's going on."

Although the agreement signed after Mr Turnbull rolled former prime minister Tony Abbott was never released publicly, it was widely reported to include support for a new "effects test" in competition law, the planned plebiscite on same-sex marriage, more support for stay-at-home mothers and the return of the water portfolio to the Nationals.

The new deal could include demands for an additional cabinet position for the smaller party, amid speculation they could receive the small business or trade portfolios.

Nationals MPs are feeling assertive after picking up an extra seat on July 2 while the Liberals went backwards. The Nationals are in a fight to retain two seats still in doubt.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten conceded defeat on Sunday. Photo: Paul Jeffers

Speaking in Melbourne on Monday, Mr Shorten said it was critical the new government "gets off on the right foot".

"That is why we call upon the government to have no secret deals," he said.

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Barnaby Joyce: 'We have won this election'

The Deputy PM and Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos are confident the Coalition will win in Flynn and Capricornia to reach the magic 76 number to form a majority government.

"It is a precondition for Mr Turnbull forming a government that he concludes a Coalition agreement with the National Party, that the National Party ticks off on Mr Turnbull's government, but it is important these arrangements are not secret.

"Australians are entitled to know what deals are being done to constitute the government of Australia.

Australians are entitled to know what deals are being done to constitute the government of Australia

"Not only should there not be a secret agreement, there shouldn't be secret deals full stop."

Nationals MPs, led by Mr Joyce, will meet on Tuesday to discuss any possible changes to the agreement.

The Liberal Party needs Nationals numbers in the House of Representatives to form government and pass legislation, and the two parties have traditionally operated with a formal Coalition agreement in place.