Who cares if Julian McGauran defected? He has just moved his uselessness to another party. Hopefully, the Liberals will have the courage to free his spot for someone that actually wants to work for the people of Victoria, rather than someone who has enjoyed a minimal effort life on the political gravy train.
Julian McGauran is not a people person, and he probably doesn’t know or even relate the sufferings and concerns of the average punter.
A newspaper article stating that he can point to no road or bridge that he has inspired the construction of, is a fair assessment of him and his capacities.
Julian McGauaran is hardly an animated reformist with reputation for making change to improve governance and policy. His strategy for maintaining power is not action, but to use his own words “to get through this term with as little ripples as possible” — political speak for more inaction!

De-forest the dead wood of politics to make way for the new inspired, motivated people-caring engaged politicians. Let’s start with lazy McGauran!

Yes, the agreement is not strictly a binding contract (for junkies of the law of politics I can send you a paper on why). But it is a serious agreement. That it is their partner in the agreement who is complicit in and benefiting from the breach makes it even more galling than if McGuaran had say done a Colston (who really did dud Labor voters in Qld).

It’s the sort of reaction you’d expect from disgruntled Nats or from the more uninformed commentators.

But Mackerras knows full well that the Nationals would be incapable of winning a Victorian senate seat in their own right in a normal half-Senate election. So what’s the big deal?