Liberal leadership hopeful Andrew Hastie has dramatically quit Sussan Ley’s Coalition frontbench after refusing to accept new expectations set by the Opposition Leader, including being sidelined from leading the party’s immigration response.
The West Australian MP confirmed he stepped down from his role as Shadow Home Affairs Minister after being advised he would not head the Coalition’s immigration strategy. “On this basis, I made the decision that I could not continue in this role and remain silent on immigration,” Hastie said.
Under Ms Ley’s plan, Senator Paul Scarr will now oversee the development of the party’s immigration policy.
Ley confirmed she was contacted by Hastie on Friday evening, just days after issuing a “charter letter” to her shadow cabinet outlining key performance indicators, expectations, and agreed policy priorities. She said every frontbencher is bound by the long-standing “shadow ministerial solidarity” convention, requiring unity in public statements and parliamentary votes.
“Mr Hastie informed me he would be unable to comply with this requirement and therefore would be resigning his position,” Ms Ley said, adding that “no policy concerns were raised during the call.”
She thanked Hastie for his service and said he “remains a valued member of the Coalition team.”
The resignation comes as Ms Ley attacked the Albanese government over reports that wives of ISIS fighters had “secretly” returned to Australia, accusing Labor of “secrecy at the expense of national security.”
“This is a critical time for the Opposition to have a strong voice scrutinising Home Affairs. Australians expect strong borders,” Ley said, lamenting that “this crucial portfolio has been left vacant today.”
In the interim, Victorian Senator James Paterson will act in the Home Affairs shadow portfolio.
Liberal sources stressed Hastie’s resignation is not linked to a leadership challenge or to debates over the party’s net zero policy, which remains under review.
Hastie, who previously said he had a “desire to lead” the Liberal Party, declined to contest the leadership against Ley and Angus Taylor in May, citing “timing.”
His departure follows the recent sacking of NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from her defence industry role after she refused to publicly support Ms Ley.
