Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's office says National Party Senator Bridget McKenzie made false claims during an appearance on 7.30 on Wednesday night.

Senator McKenzie had told the program the Coalition split occurred because the opposition leader couldn't give the Nationals the guarantees they sought on four key policies.

Asked whether the issue of shadow cabinet solidarity was also a key issue in the negotiations, as the Liberal leader had asserted, Senator Mackenzie said: "It was solely on those four policies.

"I can tell you because I was in the National Party room that made this decision, the decision that was then conveyed to the Liberal leader and that was not part of our consideration … It was solely on those four policies."

Pressed on whether Ms Ley had misrepresented the discussions, Senator McKenzie said, "Sussan Ley was not part of our party room discussions. I was … I can categorically tell you why we made the decision we did and what that was based on."

During the program, Ms Ley's office delivered a text to 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson disputing Senator McKenzie's denials.

The text said: "It is not correct to suggest shadow cabinet solidarity was not a sticking point. We have it in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours."

Ms Ley's office texted a second time, adding about Senator McKenzie: "Her language was deliberate to make it sound like it was just about the policies. That is just not correct."

7.30 has contacted Nationals Leader...

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