Machiavelli, Ley is definitely not.

The problem is that the Nats smelled in the water, and pushed to dissolve the previous Coalition agreement to one that favours them - or at the very least gives equal standing to both parties due to the current seat count.

In order to truly rebuild the Liberals, she needed to go off alone and rebuild the ‘wets’ side of the party - the gays and plays, basically - the ones that were peeled off by the Teals, due to the party’s hard right shift over the past decade.

At some point in the future 2-3 election cycles down the track when the Liberals rebuilt their identity they could arguably re-enter a coalition with the Nats from a position of power. Doing so now, is just tying an albatross around their neck.

More power to them, let a thousand blossoms bloom - I say. Never interrupt your opponent while they’re making a mistake!