Three Nationals shadow ministers expected to resign from opposition frontbench
National shadow ministers are drafting resignation letters as they prepare to leave Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s front bench following a standoff with the Liberals over hate laws.
National candidates Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald are expected to leave the opposition frontbench after voting against Labour’s hate crimes bill late on Tuesday night.
Their votes came despite the Coalition shadow cabinet agreeing to work together on the legislation after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese removed the most controversial elements of the post-Bondi legislative package, anti-defamation legislation they said could hinder free speech.
The laws were finally passed late on Tuesday night with the support of Labor and Liberal senators.
National and Liberal sources said three National senators drafted resignation letters at 9.30am on Wednesday, but party leaders were still working out how the resignation process would work to minimize damage and avoid a formal split in the Coalition.
Some National MPs think it would be overkill to force him to resign, given Labor has pushed through a chaotic and rushed legislative process.
But a National MP confirmed they were preparing to resign as the convention was clear about shadow cabinet solidarity. “The outcome is inevitable,” said a senior MP.
Another MP said something significant would have to happen to prevent resignations.
Ley held a meeting with his leadership group early Wednesday.
Complicating matters for Ley was the fact that Liberal frontbenchers, including Michaelia Cash, adjourned the shadow cabinet meeting and abstained from voting.
The National Party has opposed a watered-down section of the bill to ban hate groups after National Party backbencher Matt Canavan raised concerns that the laws could target political and religious groups.
Four Nationals Senators, McKenzie, Caddell, McDonald and Canavan, voted against Labour’s bill, along with the Greens and several candidates, at around 11pm on Tuesday. Liberal senators joined Labor senators to pass the legislation.
Earlier in the day, Liberal MPs in the lower house, including Ley and Andrew Hastie, voted for the bill. National MPs abstained from this vote.
Shadow ministers are obliged to follow the position adopted by the cabinet.
More to come.
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Paul Sakkal is the chief political correspondent. It has previously covered Victorian politics and won the Walkley and Quill awards. Reach him securely on Signal @paulsakkal.14Connect with: excitement or email.
