Australia’s main opposition alliance, the Liberal-National Coalition, has broken apart after a dispute over hate speech legislation introduced following last month’s deadly Bondi Beach attack. The Nationals party withdrew from the coalition after its senators defied a shadow cabinet agreement and voted against the reforms, citing concerns over free speech and rushed legislation.
Nationals leader David Littleproud declared the coalition “untenable,” while Liberal leader Sussan Ley—already under internal pressure—accepted the resignation of three Nationals frontbenchers, leading the rest of their shadow cabinet to step down. This marks the second split in less than a year, raising questions about the opposition’s stability and Ley’s leadership ahead of future elections.
