The political year has ended in controversy, the same way it started. And the book-end controversies have been courtesy of the Nationals, a minor party with only limited parliamentary representation.
Nationals MP Andrew Broad will not contest the next federal election amid claims of inappropriate behaviour towards a young woman.
Explosive allegations made in a gossip magazine have led to a federal assistant minister stepping down.
Dozens of Nationals members are under investigation for links to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, with party leader and deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack saying such views are not welcome.
