The Nationals have reportedly proposed an additional two-week hiatus from the frontbench in an effort to reconcile with the Liberals. This comes as an important deadline for resolving their differences passed without a solution.
The Coalition’s divide originated over two weeks ago due to disagreements on Labor’s hate speech legislation. Opposition leader Sussan Ley had allegedly set a 9am Friday deadline for the Nationals to address her demand to discipline the dissenting members, or else risk making the split permanent.
While Ley has not publicly acknowledged this deadline, it was reported by Nine newspapers.
The Coalition’s discord began when three Nationals MPs defied party lines to vote against Labor’s hate speech laws, a move that violated cabinet unity.
Following this, Ley accepted their resignations, prompting the entire Nationals faction of the shadow cabinet to resign, effectively fracturing the Coalition.
In response, Ley made interim appointments to cover the shadow ministry roles previously held by Nationals MPs.
On Tuesday, Ley laid out non-negotiable conditions for a Coalition reunification, including a six-month backbench suspension for the three Nationals MPs involved.
The ABC reports the Nationals have sent a counteroffer of another two weeks in exile from the frontbench, without addressing Ley’s conditions.
The Liberal leader has yet to respond to the counteroffer or confirm if negotiations will continue before she announces an all-Liberal shadow cabinet, effectively ending the Coalition.
Earlier on Friday, Liberal Senator Jane Hume was asked if the Liberals were still open to reunification.
“Let’s face it, we’re better in Coalition with the National Party, but the Liberal Party can do this on its own — do not be under any illusions that we can’t,” she told Channel 7.
Hume was also asked about One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who this week signalled she was open to forming a coalition with the Liberals and Nationals.
“People are rightly aggrieved and that’s why they’re talking about One Nation but come the election I want to make sure that it’s the Liberal Party that are presenting those credible and genuine alternatives,” she said.
On Friday, Opposition communications spokesperson Melissa McIntosh would not be drawn on whether she agreed with Ley’s offer to the Nationals.
“Well, that’s up to the negotiations between Sussan and David. But I think Sussan as leader made her position clear … so that’s an important position for her,” she said.
McIntosh said cabinet solidarity remained a “red line” for any future Coalition arrangement.
“If we don’t have cabinet solidarity, then it could become a free-for-all, and it’s a very important part of your commitment to the shadow cabinet and to the party and to the coalition,” she said.
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