Not looking good

THE Coalition is increasingly pessimistic about its chances of winning the support of the three rural independents it needs to take power.

Senior sources believe the decision could go either way, but pessimism has grown among some senior Coalition figures over the “disengagement” of the independents during key briefings last week with senior frontbenchers.

Key issues such as the opposition’s alternative to Labor’s National Broadband Network and opposition costings were only briefly canvassed.