A political divorce between the Nationals and Liberals after a failure to land a coalition pact may not be permanent, with the door left open for a rekindling.
Labor and the coalition are breathing down each other's necks on a two-party preferred basis in the run-up to the 2024/25 federal budget, two polls show.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is on track to govern in minority as Australian voters deserted both major parties in favour of independents and the Greens.
Liberal MP Dave Sharma has told voters they risk losing a moderate voice inside the party if he is ousted from the Sydney seat of Wentworth, one of several electorates targeted by prominent independents.
Coalition ministers have been rolled out to defend the federal government and prime minister's poor standing in the polls, after support for the party and the prime minister slumped further.
