Liberal senator says she is ‘too fond of good coffee’ to join Nationals where she’d ‘have to talk a lot slower’

The Liberal senator Jane Hume joked she would “have to speak a lot slower” if she joined the Nationals, saying she was “too fond of good coffee and free markets” to join the regional party, after David Littleproud said he was open to more conservatives joining his ranks.

It comes amid a long-running and damaging period of soul-searching for the opposition, with members of the Liberals and Nationals reportedly considering switching parties, starting a new conservative movement, or assessing leadership options.

Hume’s tongue-in-cheek comments have been criticised by Labor’s regional development minister Kristy McBain, who accused the Melbourne-based politician of insulting regional Australia – accusing her opponent of being “smarmy” and “arrogant”.

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