Just after 9:30 PM on Tuesday night, a surprise visitor entered the Senate chamber, marking the beginning of a political upheaval that would fracture Australia’s Coalition once again. David Littleproud, leader of the Nationals, took a seat in the visitor’s gallery as Senator Bridget McKenzie articulated the Nationals’ stance on Labor’s proposed hate speech laws. The presence of Littleproud, a lower house MP, immediately drew attention, signaling a significant rift within the Coalition.
Despite McKenzie’s impassioned speech, senior Liberals were left uncertain about the Nationals’ voting intentions. According to Liberal sources, Littleproud had not communicated the Nationals’ final position to Sussan Ley, the opposition leader, despite multiple discussions warning of the repercussions of defying the shadow cabinet. Littleproud, however, contends that the Liberals were well aware of his party’s plans.
The Nationals’ decision to oppose the bill was inconsequential to its passage, which succeeded with 38 votes to 22. Yet, it caused a seismic shift in Australia’s conservative political landscape, marking the second major split between the Liberals and Nationals in eight months. This division has left the leadership of both Ley and Littleproud in jeopardy.
Background and Rising Tensions
The turmoil comes after a challenging period for Anthony Albanese, who faced controversies over travel expenses and the Bondi massacre’s political fallout. Opposition MPs were dismayed to find themselves back in the spotlight for internal discord rather than holding the government accountable.
Insiders describe the Coalition as “unworkable,” with one Liberal MP stating,
“We can no longer denigrate ourselves in a partnership with the Nationals, who selfishly only advance their own petty agendas.”
The roots of the current crisis can be traced back to a contested shadow cabinet meeting on Sunday, where the Liberals and Nationals attempted to reconcile their differences after a previous split post-2025 election.
Sunday: The Shadow Cabinet’s Contentious Meeting
The shadow cabinet meeting was intended to solidify a unified position on the hate speech bill. Initially, there was consensus on rejecting the government’s original laws, which were seen as unsalvageable. However, the dynamic shifted when Albanese removed a contentious anti-racial vilification provision and separated gun control measures into a different bill. This allowed the Coalition to support measures against hate groups without endorsing a national gun buyback, a red line for the Nationals.
While the Liberals claim a unanimous decision to pass the bill with certain amendments, the Nationals argue that no binding agreement was reached, given they hadn’t seen the final bill.
Monday: Emerging Fractures
On Monday, Barnaby Joyce, a former Nationals leader, appeared alongside Pauline Hanson of One Nation, highlighting the growing electoral threat from Hanson’s party. The latest Newspoll showed One Nation’s primary vote surpassing the Coalition’s for the first time, exacerbating the Nationals’ shift towards more right-wing positions.
By Monday evening, the Liberals had agreed to support the bill, despite knowing the Nationals were considering separate amendments. However, no joint party room meeting occurred to finalize the position, leaving the Coalition’s stance in limbo.
Tuesday: The Fateful Vote
On Tuesday, the Nationals’ position remained unclear even as the hate speech bill was voted on in the lower house. Some Nationals, like Colin Boyce and Llew O’Brien, crossed the floor to oppose the bill, while others abstained, a technical breach of shadow cabinet solidarity.
Littleproud’s office confirmed the decision to abstain and seek amendments in the Senate, but did not reveal plans to oppose the bill outright. It wasn’t until late that night, in a Facebook live video by Matt Canavan, that the Nationals’ decision to reject the bill was publicly confirmed.
Wednesday: Crisis and Consequences
Following the Senate vote, the Nationals prepared to resign from shadow cabinet roles, with Littleproud threatening a mass resignation if Ley accepted the resignations. Ley, however, stood firm, emphasizing the importance of shadow cabinet solidarity.
By late Wednesday, the remaining Nationals frontbenchers resigned, effectively dismantling the Coalition.
Thursday: The Coalition’s Collapse
On Thursday morning, Littleproud demanded the reinstatement of the sacked senators, threatening to end the Coalition if Ley did not comply. Despite Ley’s plea for restraint on the national day of mourning for the Bondi victims, Littleproud announced the split at a press conference.
As the dust settles, the future of both Ley and Littleproud’s leadership hangs in the balance. Senior Liberal MPs anticipate a leadership challenge, potentially ending Ley’s tenure. The extraordinary events of this week may have irrevocably altered the landscape of Australian conservative politics.
