Nationals Senator Julian McGauran
is quitting his party to join the Liberals. His
office has confirmed the news – but they’re staying schtumm about the
reasons for the move, which the Victorian Senator will reveal at a
presser
at 4 Treasury Place at 1.00pm.

McGauran is the Nationals whip
in the Senate. He’s held the position since 1999, but it’s not the
easiest job for a gentleman amateur in the game of politics nowadays.

It’s
not that easy a job for anyone – and could get worse with the battle
over the Queensland National Senate preselections threatening Senate
Leader Ron Boswell.

McGauran’s move looks like an admission that the Nationals in the Senate – or one in particular – are ungovernable.

And that says plenty about the future of the party – and John Howard’s one vote Senate majority.