The Coalition is at breaking point as all 11 Nationals MPs in the shadow ministry, including Nationals leader David Littleproud, have quit.
Following a meeting on Wednesday night, the remaining eight shadow ministers belonging to the Nationals announced they would step down from the cabinet following Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell doing so hours earlier.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley, however, has refused to accept the additional resignations as she desperately tries to hold the alliance together.
The cracks first appeared on Sunday when the Coalition agreed to support Labor’s anti-hate speech and gun reform bills, but McKenzie, McDonald and Cadell went rogue and voted against them.
Ley then told reporters she had ‘made it clear to David Littleproud that members of the shadow cabinet could not vote against the shadow cabinet position’ and asked him to nominate members of his party to replace them on the Coalition ministry.
The National senators had taken issue with a revised provision in the post-Bondi attack bills aimed at prohibiting hate groups.
Nationals backbencher Matt Canavan had warned such laws could be used to outlaw political or religious organisations that criticise the government.
Canavan also voted against the legislation, but as a backbencher was not required to vote along party lines.
In the Upper House, most Liberal senators voted with Labor on Tuesday night to ensure the legislation passed, despite opposition from the Greens, One Nation and crossbenchers.
The tensions follow two polls published Monday morning which showed One Nation had surged in popularity in recent weeks, with the Newspoll showing it had overtaken the Coalition in the primary vote at 22-21 per cent.
It appears the Coalition’s conservative base is deserting it for the minor party.
Adding to the pressure, the Liberal Party has been inching to the left to combat losing inner-city seats to the teals, putting them at odds with the rural-focused Nationals.
Ley issued a statement on Wednesday night, as legendary former-Liberal PM John Howard publicly backed her, saying she had taken the right course of action.
‘This evening, I spoke with Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, and strongly urged him not to walk away from the Coalition,’ she said.
‘I have received additional offers of resignation from National Party Shadow Ministers, which I and my Liberal Leadership Group have determined are unnecessary.
‘The Liberal Party supports the Coalition arrangements because they deliver the most effective political alliance for good government.
‘I note that in David’s letter, he has not indicated that the Nationals are leaving the Coalition.
‘No permanent changes will be made to the Shadow Ministry at this time, giving the National Party time to reconsider these offers of resignation.’
CRE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15483571/Coalition-National-party-quit-shadow-cabinet.html