O’Brien shared with the ABC that it has indeed been a challenging week for the Liberals.

“This is certainly difficult for our supporters. Ultimately, however, the nation benefits most from a Liberal-National Coalition,” he expressed.

He voiced his discontent with the Nationals’ decision to part ways with the Liberals, saying, “I’m quite disheartened by the National Party’s move to break away from the Liberal Party.”

Despite these events, O’Brien remained firm, stating, “I don’t foresee any changes ahead.”

He continued, “Sussan Ley has shown remarkable poise and resilience recently, which my colleagues acknowledge, so I don’t anticipate any leadership challenges.”

Speculation suggests that senior Liberal members, Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor, may be contenders for the leadership position.

Ley is currently working to fill the 11 frontbench vacancies after the entire Nationals frontbench, including Littleproud, resigned on Thursday in protest of three senators having their resignations accepted by the opposition leader.

The trio – Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald – voted against the federal government’s hate speech bill, despite being required to vote in line with the position taken by the shadow cabinet.

Littleproud has pointed the finger back at Ley, claiming the senators’ votes did not breach shadow cabinet solidarity and it was Ley who made the Coalition untenable by accepting their resignations. 

“The National Party is our own sovereign party. Sussan Ley cannot force us to vote one way or another. And when we have not breached any process, any procedure in the Coalition,” he said on Thursday.

Littleproud has, however, said it was time for the Nationals to “move on” and for the Liberals to “work out who they are”.