David Littleproud and Sussan Ley have confirmed that the Coalition split is temporarily on hold following last-minute negotiations.
Both the Nationals and Liberals were set to announce their respective shadow portfolios on Thursday—a move that would have formalized the breakdown of their alliance. However, Mr. Littleproud said he chose to delay the Nationals’ announcement after Ms. Ley agreed to reconvene the Liberal Party room to reconsider four key policies that had caused the rift.
“These four policy issues are critical for our communities,” Mr. Littleproud said, referring to supermarket divestiture powers, support for nuclear energy, a dedicated regional development fund, and improved telecommunications in the regions.
He noted that, in good faith, he sent home the Nationals’ shadow spokespeople and that Ms. Ley would also delay naming a Liberal shadow cabinet. “This is a constructive step forward,” he said.
The disagreement stemmed from the Nationals’ insistence on firm commitments, while Ms. Ley had proposed a broader review approach—“nothing adopted and nothing abandoned”—to rebuilding after the Coalition’s election loss. She emphasized in a statement that the Liberal Party would now consider the Nationals’ policy demands through internal processes.
Mr. Littleproud clarified that this pause in the split doesn’t guarantee a reunified Coalition, but reflected a mutual willingness to re-engage in discussions. He added that it was a collective Nationals decision to step away from the partnership earlier in the week, and that rejoining would depend on how seriously the Liberals consider their concerns.
The political fallout from the Coalition’s rift has been intensified by lingering post-election tensions. While the Liberal Party suffered heavy losses in the federal election, the Nationals’ vote remained largely stable.
Frictions also flared over Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s defection to the Liberal Party, which some Nationals viewed as part of a long-running recruitment effort. A letter from Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie to Liberal Senate leader Michaelia Cash indicated this issue could impact the Coalition’s ability to function jointly in the Senate.
Behind the scenes, Ms. Ley has reached out to multiple senior Nationals, including Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack, Darren Chester, and Sam Birrell, in a bid to salvage the partnership.
Mr. Joyce told Sky News that a fractured opposition would not serve the public interest and called for both parties to do everything possible to resolve their differences. “Why would you hope for anything less than an effective opposition?” he asked.
