a separate party called the "national party" was formed. the name was initially disallowed after objections from the national party in queensland, victoria and tasmania but later formalised as the national party of australia (wa). disaffected members of the national country party joined including three members of the legislative assembly, cowan, mcpharlin and matt stephens, and one member of the legislative council, thomas mcneil. the national party operated as an independent force while the national country party remained in the coalition. the two parties worked independently of one another while quietly (and occasionally, publicly) feuding. in the 1980 state election the national country party maintained the coalition while the national party agreed with the labor party not to contest each other's seats and cowan publicly stated his party was willing to support a labor minority government if it had the largest number of seats. the election saw each party return its three sitting mlas, with the coalition retaining power. on 12 may 1982, mcpharlin resigned from the national party and rejoined the national country party.