Coalition between Liberals and Nationals could again split following frontbench resignations

Sussan Ley’s authority is being tested as the National Party again threatens to formally break up the Coalition after three of its frontbenchers sensationally quit shadow cabinet for not backing the Liberal leader’s support for new laws in response to the Bondi terror attack.

Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald all tendered their resignation notice after splitting with the Liberals to vote against Labor’s hate crime laws, despite Ms Ley cutting a deal with Anthony Albanese to help pass the reforms.

Ms Ley described their decision to step down, which will come with a whopping pay cut, as “appropriate” and revealed she’d tasked Nationals leader David Littleproud to provide “three new nominees” for her frontbench.

“Three Nationals senators were unable to maintain that Shadow Cabinet solidarity. This is an unfortunate circumstance and one that requires action. I thank David for understanding this,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I have asked each to continue serving in our Coalition team, across their various parliamentary and committee duties, but from outside the Shadow Cabinet.”Members of the National Party room are due to discuss the crisis in a virtual meeting on Wednesday evening which may resolve to again tear up the Coalition agreement with the Liberal Party.

Senator McKenzie had openly conceded on Sky News on Wednesday morning that she was “aware” of the rules and that the decision to oppose reforms could cost her and colleagues their ministries.

“I’m very aware of the conventions of parliament, and I will be doing what I’ve always done, which is trying to do my very best to conduct my career here with integrity,” the Nationals Senate leader said.

Earlier, Senator Cadell had accepted that he might be sacked after crossing the floor, during a TV interview.

The chaotic episode has raised significant questions over whether Ms Ley’s leadership can survive, with one Nationals source labelled her position “terminal”.

While the milestone likely won’t offer her comfort amid the internal Coalition chaos, Ms Ley on Tuesday bet Alexander Downers’ forgettable eight months and seven days tenure as the Liberal Party’s shortest serving leader.

But as several Labor parliamentarians questioned the Coalition’s longevity, including Penny Wong, Mr Littleproud insisted the saga shouldn’t be seen as a reflection of their relationship.

“This decision does not reflect on the relationship within the Coalition,” Mr Littleproud said in a statement as the bill progressed through the Senate on Tuesday night.

“The Nationals support the intent of the legislation, but we must get it right,” he said.

“The legislation needs amendments to guarantee greater protections against unintended consequences that limit the rights and freedom of speech of everyday Australians and the Jewish community.”

Ms Ley said the Nationals decision came it was “unanimously agreed” in a shadow cabinet meeting on Sunday night that frontbenchers wouldn’t vote against the legislation.

She also claimed to have reiterated to Mr Littleproud “in several conversations” on Tuesday that frontbenchers needed to fall in line with Shadow Cabinet solidarity.

“Maintaining a strong and functioning Coalition is in the national interest. Shadow Cabinet solidarity is not optional,” she said.

“It is the foundation of serious Opposition and credible government.

“I acknowledge this was a difficult issue for the Nationals’ party room and that they had three different positions across both houses of the Parliament. Some members voted against the

legislation, another voted for it, and several took a deliberate decision to abstain.”

Mr Littleproud, himself, had abstained from the vote in the House, while other key figures decided to follow suit in the Senate.

But it was not just Nationals MPs and Senators who abstained.

Ms Ley’s most senior opposition senator, Michaelia Cash, was also absent.

The WA Liberal, who was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate in May last year, claimed she “did not intentionally” miss the vote about 11pm following an hour-long series of rolling divisions.

“I did not intentionally abstain from voting on the legislation. My support for the legislation was made clear in my speech to the chamber,” Senator Cash told The Nightly on Wednesday.

Coalition sources claim Senator Cash was “within cooee” of the chamber at the time with several other members, who also had “fully intended” to vote for the laws but had been aware that there were enough Liberals present to ensure the bill’s passage.

In a speech delivered on the legislative package earlier on Tuesday, Senator Cash claimed she was “very happy to support the laws”.

“Australians want to see Islamic hate preachers gone, they want to see the minister given the ability to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir and they want neo-nazis off our streets. These laws will achieve that, and that’s why I’m supporting them,” Ms Ley said.

Her fellow WA Liberals Slade Brockman and Matt O’Sullivan also missed the vote, as did Andrew Bragg and James McGrath.

Labor’s most senior WA parliamentarian Madeleine King urged her Opposition colleagues to justify their decision after flying in for the special sitting week in Canberra.

“It is extraordinary. Senators Michaelia Cash, Matt O’Sullivan and Slade Brockman all need to explain why they failed to support their leader, Sussan Ley, by abstaining from the final vote on the bill,” Ms King said.

SA Liberal Senator Alex Antic also took his own path by voting against the Bill.

While Liberal recruit Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had abstained from the vote, in a statement on Wednesday the NT Senator said she intended “to vote no” and was “deeply disappointed” there was no opportunity to do so.

Senator Nampijinpa Price claimed while she was nearby the Senate as divisions played out on Tuesday night, she didn’t make it into the chamber for the final vote due to failures in her alert system.

“I was intending to vote ‘NO’. I was waiting in the alcove outside the Senate chamber for the call on the final vote on the legislation, but there was an issue with the system upon which we rely,” she said.

“I was deeply disappointed to miss the opportunity to vote against the bill.

“It was a miserable end to two days of dealing with Labor’s rushed and reckless legislation.”

Labor Senator Murray Watt highlighted the radio silence from Ms Ley and the leader of the junior Coalition partner David Littleproud on Wednesday morning.

“Today we’ve seen a constant parade of Federal Coalition figures in every TV studio in this building. The only two people we haven’t seen are the leaders of the Liberal and National parties,” he said.

“At a time when we see the Federal Coalition crumbling before our eyes, the two leaders of the Coalition are in hiding.

“Yet again, we see the Federal Coalition soap opera on display for the Australian people to see at a time when Australians want us focusing on their needs, rather than politician’s needs.

“This week was supposed to be an opportunity to unify the nation, but the Federal Coalition can’t even unify themselves.”