It's a breakup that never seemed to be one that would last forever.
And just two days after the coalition split, the two parties have taken the first steps towards reuniting.
A shadow ministry was expected to be announced by the Liberal Party this week, with the Nationals convening in Canberra today to assign their own spokespeople.
But deliberations have been paused by both parties, in what Nationals leader David Littleproud says is a sign of good faith.
"She made an offer to reconvene her party room to discuss the four policy areas that the National Party demand as part of a coalition agreement. And I thank her for that. And as a consequence, I have decided to send those spokespeople home as a sign of good faith, and Sussan, as a sign of good faith, will not be announcing Shadow Cabinet."
Since splitting, the Nationals have claimed the issue was around policies - wanting guarantees over nuclear power, the ability to break up the major supermarkets if they're found to be abusing their market share, a $20 billion regional Future Fund, and ensuring all Australians have access to basic telecommunications.
Mr Littleproud confirmed a policy to lift the moratorium on nuclear is the only guarantee they would now need from the Liberals - a downgrade from the policy to build seven publicly-owned reactors taken to the last election.
The Liberal Party says the issue was around shadow cabinet solidarity - claiming the Nationals would not guarantee that their members of the shadow cabinet would always represent official coalition position.
This morning, Mr Littleproud said that was an issue raised due to what happened during the 2023 referendum, when the Nationals did not wait for an official Coalition position before opposing the Voice.
"We breached cabinet solidarity in the last Parliament under the voice, and that set Peter Dutton and my relationship back, and I wanted to make sure that we had everything covered, and that we set the framework of our relationship moving forward in the right direction."
But he says cabinet solidarity was not an issue taken to the Nationals party room - and not a sticking point for reaching a coalition agreement.
"The reason the coalition has split is because of those four key policy areas. That is all that is there that needs to be rectified. And if the Liberal Party are able to come to come to us and give us that guarantee, then the door is open."
Later in the day, Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said in a statement.
"David Littleproud has made a public statement that The Nationals are willing to accept Shadow Cabinet solidarity as part of a Coalition Agreement. This is the first time this commitment has been made and I welcome it as a foundation to resolve other matters. Earlier today I wrote to, and met with, David inviting him to re-enter good-faith negotiations. I am pleased he has accepted."
She also said the policy issues would be considered in line with the Liberal Party's processes, and that her announcement of a Shadow Ministry would be paused.
Mr Littleproud remains hopeful the parties will reunite before Parliament returns…
"If you want to appoint a Shadow Cabinet, Parliament will sit before the end of July. So I think there's some clear timelines without having to define them. It would be, it would be great to walk in as a Shadow Cabinet together."
… but is still blaming the Liberal Party for the initial time frame that caused the split.
"I was working by the process and the timelines that were given to us by the Liberal Party."
