(Photo: Maranoa Electorate Office)
January 22, 2026
“Remaining in a Coalition with the Liberal Party under the leadership of Sussan Ley has become untenable and cannot continue.”
These are the words of Nationals leader David Littleproud on Thursday morning as he announced the much-predicted Opposition split.
This is the second time that Mr Littleproud, the Member for Maranoa, has led a split from the Coalition since the May 2025 landslide Federal Election win by Labor.
The latest divorce between the two conservative parties follows the acceptance of the resignations by Ms Ley of three front bench Nationals’ Senators – Susan McDonald, Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell – who defied Shadow Cabinet solidarity on Tuesday night by voting against a Labor Bill which aimed to strengthen hate speech laws.
Nationals’ backbencher Senator Matt Canavan also voted against the Bill.
Ms Ley accepted the resignations despite being told in writing by Mr Littleproud that the eight remaining Nationals Shadow Ministers, including Mr Littleproud himself, would quit the front bench in solidarity with their colleagues if she did so.
This occurred on Wednesday despite Ms Ley saying it was unnecessary.
Shadow Cabinet agreed on Sunday night to support Labor’s Bill, with some amendments, however, Mr Littleproud claims this process was flawed (see Statement, below).
The Labor Government had previously split the contentious Bill into two parts to separate the gun buyback and importation provisions from the “hate speech” legislation in a bid to overcome Opposition objections.
During this process, it also scrapped anti-vilification provisions, which included a new offence of promoting hatred, that various civil liberties groups and MPs claimed could curtail free speech.
The Coalition split also follows a recent Newspoll that found One Nation’s primary vote had overtaken the Coalition.
- Related article: Nationals Split From Coalition
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David Littleproud’s Statement
Nationals’ leader David Littleproud released this statement on Thursday morning:
“Opposing Labor’s poorly drafted hate laws was a principled decision of The Nationals’ Party Room, made in the national interest.
“Our priority is keeping Australians safe against Islamic extremism and antisemitism. We will always stand with the Jewish community against the scourge of antisemitism.
“We support legislative measures that protect against this threat, but they must be right.
“The Nationals abstained from voting against the legislation in the House of Representatives until we could move amendments in the Senate that provided protections against potential unintended consequences to the rights and freedoms of everyday Australians.
“When these amendments were voted down, in line with our Party Room’s clear decision and direction, the four National Party Senators voted against the Bill.
“The entire National Party Shadow Ministry is equally bound and committed to this decision, made after extensive and considered deliberation.
“The Nationals’ Senate team acted in the national interest. This legislation was too important to risk getting wrong.
“Sussan Ley has put protecting her own leadership ahead of maintaining the Coalition.
“This week, the Australian Parliament should have come together to make Australia safer and protect the freedoms that we have enjoyed since before Federation.
“What has resulted, however, is the passing of a Bill that, while well-intentioned, is seriously flawed, pushed through Parliament in pursuit of a contrived political deadline.
“The Parliament could not properly scrutinise this critical Bill.
“Sussan Ley’s handling of this Bill has been regrettable. The Nationals’ resignations from the Shadow Ministry were entirely preventable.
“The Nationals will always act in the national interest and will always protect everyday Australians’ freedoms.
“On Tuesday, after very careful deliberations, The Nationals’ Party Room made the decision to vote against the ‘Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws Bill 2026)’.
“The Nationals strongly dispute Ms Ley’s account of the Shadow Cabinet discussions. The usual Coalition process was not adhered to through proper Shadow Cabinet or Joint Party Room.
“The Nationals members of Shadow Cabinet did not endorse the government’s Bill. It discussed the general principles only. The final form of the Bill was not brought back to Shadow Cabinet or the Joint Party Room for consideration.
“This was a failed process, inconsistent with standard practice and reflects Ms Ley’s management of the Shadow Cabinet.
“The Nationals Party Room identified significant concerns with the Bill. These issues were raised with the relevant Shadow Ministers, who then worked with the government to seek improvements.
“However, the Shadow Ministers were unable to provide assurance to The Nationals’ Party Room that all unintended consequences, including potential impacts on everyday Australians’ freedoms, had been adequately addressed.
“As Shadow Ministers, Senators McKenzie, McDonald and Cadell offered their resignations to maintain their personal integrity, despite the Party Room’s view that the normal process was not followed.
“Sussan Ley was advised in writing that if she accepted the resignations of the three Shadow Cabinet Ministers who voted against the Bill in the Senate, the entire National Party ministry would resign to take collective responsibility.
“That has now occurred.
“The Nationals will continue to work on developing policies, like our ‘Cheaper, Better, Fairer Energy and Climate’ plan that will help Australians deal with the cost of living and protect Australian jobs and our way of life.
“We will protect the interests of regional Australians and the rights and freedoms of everyday Australians. We will sit and operate separately from the Liberals in both Chambers of Parliament.”
