Liberal MPs have broadly backed reuniting with their Nationals counterparts, but questions remain about policy demands.
The former coalition partners are edging closer to a reunion after both parties delayed the announcement of their shadow cabinet and portfolio allocations.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley addressed her party room during a virtual hook up on Thursday evening, where there was said to be broad support for remaining in a coalition but not at any cost.
The Nationals want the Liberals to commit to nuclear energy, divestiture laws, a regional investment fund and boosting phone connectivity.
Following the meeting, one Liberal source told AAP none of the policies were deal breakers.
But there are questions about details such as costings and how they would be paid for as MPs are wary about signing up with a blank cheque.
No counter offers were discussed with a second partyroom meeting to follow.
How much policy detail is agreed to is another item of discussion as MPs mull what a commitment to the rural party would look like.
The Nationals have flagged they would accept a commitment from the Liberals to removing the moratorium on nuclear power, rather than doubling down on the previous policy to build seven power plants.
There’s confidence an agreement can be reached, given the chaos an alternative could present after Labor claimed a massive lower house majority.
The Nationals pulled out of the decades-long coalition political arrangement after leader David Littleproud said he failed to get Ms Ley to recommit to key policies they took to the election.
Ms Ley didn’t outright reject the policies during initial talks, but said she couldn’t commit to anything so soon after the May 3 election defeat as the party room had to discuss all its policies.
Members on both sides of the aisle have questioned why an agreement needed to be rushed only weeks after an overwhelming election defeat.
Mr Littleproud on Thursday said the party had to take a principled stance.
“These four policy areas are important to the lives and the livelihoods of people that I represent,” he told reporters in Canberra.
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