Australia’s federal Coalition has plunged into its most serious crisis in years, after the National Party formally withdrew from the opposition frontbench, declaring its governing agreement with the Liberal Party “untenable”.
The dramatic rupture follows a bitter standoff between Nationals leader David Littleproud and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, triggered by internal dissent over Labor’s hate crimes legislation and the enforcement of shadow cabinet discipline.
The crisis erupted on Tuesday night when three Nationals shadow ministers — Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell — voted against Labor’s hate crimes bill, defying the agreed Coalition position. While the move reflected a party-room decision within the Nationals, it breached the long-standing convention of shadow cabinet solidarity.
Mr Littleproud warned Ms Ley in writing that accepting the resignations of the three senators would provoke a collective response. In a letter described by senior figures as explosive, he stated that if the resignations were accepted, the entire Nationals frontbench would step down in solidarity.
Despite the warning, Ms Ley accepted the resignations, prompting an immediate and coordinated withdrawal of all Nationals shadow ministers. Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Mr Littleproud confirmed he had informed Ms Ley that the Coalition agreement was effectively over.
“She was aware of the consequence of what was coming,” he said, adding bluntly: “The Coalition, as it stands, is done.”
Mr Littleproud accused Ms Ley of knowingly forcing the junior Coalition partner into an impossible position and “mismanaging” the situation at every stage. He said none of his MPs would be prepared to serve in a shadow ministry led by Ms Ley, declaring the current arrangement politically unworkable.
While he stopped short of ruling out future cooperation between the two parties, Mr Littleproud said the breakdown marked a critical juncture. “The reality is that no one in our ministry could work in a Sussan Ley-led ministry,” he said, arguing the Liberals must now reflect on their identity and direction without the Nationals.
Ms Ley, facing mounting pressure over her leadership, urged Mr Littleproud not to engage in public commentary on Thursday, citing the National Day of Mourning for the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack. In a statement, she said her focus remained on Australians grieving the attack and confirmed she would not comment further on the Coalition split until Friday.
Behind the scenes, the fallout has intensified speculation about Ms Ley’s political future, with multiple MPs describing her leadership as terminal. Critics within the Liberal Party argue the crisis was compounded by her earlier decision to pressure the government to recall parliament, forcing the Coalition to take a position on legislation that deeply divided its own ranks.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott described the situation as a dual failure, accusing Labor of moral weakness in its legislative response to the Bondi attack and the Coalition of political collapse. Other senior figures urged restraint, warning against rash decisions amid an already volatile political landscape.
The breakdown marks the second major rupture in less than a year, following the Coalition’s brief disbandment after the 2025 federal election and renewed tensions during the net-zero debate later that year. With Nationals MPs openly questioning the future of the partnership and some Liberals privately conceding the Coalition may no longer be sustainable, Australia’s opposition now faces a period of profound uncertainty.
