Federal Nats 'united against Qld merger'

Nationals leader Mark Vaile says his federal party room is united in its opposition to the proposed merger of the Queensland division with the Liberals.

Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg and state Liberal leader Bob Quinn have proposed the merger at a state level in an effort to defeat the Beattie Labor government at the next state election, due early next year.

But in a two-and-a-half hour party meeting in federal parliament on Monday night, MPs and senators compared the move to previous political disasters such as the "Joh for Canberra" campaign.

Mr Vaile, who will meet Mr Springborg in Canberra later today, said the federal party remained committed to the coalition.

"Our federal members ... are absolutely committed to maintaining the strong coalition arrangement we have here and don't want to see that undermined or weakened because of the benefits that we have delivered to regional Australia over the last 10 years," he told ABC Radio National.

"This is about maintaining stability in the national interest."

The Nationals lost a ministerial position after Victorian senator Julian McGauran defected to the Liberal Party in January.

Mr Vaile urged the Queensland division to consider the flow-on effects of a state merger on the party's representation in federal cabinet.

"The coalition arrangements purely ebb and flow on the ratio of numbers in the parliament," he said.

"And, if they change, then the coalition arrangements change, and that's just a well-known fact.

"I don't want to see my team undermined or destabilised here in Canberra.

"I just ask that the Queensland division, as they go through their ... decision-making processes, reflect on that."

Mr Vaile rejected comments from former Nationals leader Doug Anthony that the party should face the "writing on the wall" and merge with the Liberals nationally and in every state.

He said Mr Anthony made similar comments when his political career ended more than 20 years ago.

"We are still here and we are still delivering for regional Australia and moving ahead," Mr Vaile said.