Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has moved swiftly to project stability and authority within the Liberal Party following a dramatic and highly public split with the Nationals, declaring she is “absolutely confident” in her leadership despite the rupture of the Coalition agreement.
The split, the second in just a matter of months, was triggered by deep disagreements over the federal government’s recently passed hate speech and gun control legislation. The laws cleared parliament last week with bipartisan support from Labor and the Liberals, a move that angered the Nationals and ultimately led them to walk away from the long-standing Coalition partnership.
Nationals leader David Littleproud publicly declared the Coalition arrangement “untenable” under Ley’s leadership, accusing the Liberals of abandoning core conservative and regional values. His remarks marked a sharp escalation in tensions between the two parties, laying bare ideological and strategic divisions that have been simmering since the last election.
Speaking on the Today program on Friday morning, Ley dismissed suggestions that her leadership was under threat and rejected claims that the Liberals had mishandled relations with their Coalition partner. She said the party had acted consistently with its principles and internal discipline.
“My focus is always on holding the government to account,” Ley said. “The Liberal Party stood firm on its values, including the principle of shadow cabinet solidarity.”
Ley acknowledged the Coalition’s history and electoral success but stopped short of making any overtures to the Nationals, striking a careful balance between openness and resolve. Her now-headline-grabbing remark — “the door is open, but I’m not looking” — was widely interpreted as a signal that while reconciliation remains possible, it will not come at the expense of Liberal Party positions or leadership authority.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” she said. “The Coalition is stronger together.”
The breakdown has significant political implications, particularly in regional and rural electorates where the Nationals traditionally wield influence. Without a formal Coalition, coordination between the parties on parliamentary strategy, messaging and election campaigning becomes more complex and potentially more volatile.
For the government, the split offers a strategic advantage, weakening the Opposition’s ability to present a unified front on contentious national security and public safety issues. For Ley, however, the immediate challenge is to consolidate Liberal support, project stability to voters, and demonstrate that the party can function effectively — with or without the Nationals — as an alternative government.
Whether the split proves temporary or marks a longer-term realignment on the conservative side of politics remains an open question. For now, Ley is making clear that leadership certainty, not internal negotiation, is her priority.
