Right-wing senator’s defection intensifies rifts in Australian government By Mike Head 9 February 2017 Tuesday’s split by right-wing Senator Cory Bernardi from the Liberal-National government to form a new party, the Australian Conservatives, has exacerbated the tensions wracking the ruling coalition. While Bernardi’s defection in the Senate is not, by itself, an immediate threat … Continue reading Right-wing senator’s defection intensifies rifts in Australian government