How the coalition split up for a second time in a year

WHAT HAPPENED

* For the second time since the May 2025 federal election, the National Party has left its coalition partnership with the Liberals

* National leader David Littleproud announced that no one from his party could serve in the shadow cabinet led by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley

HOW WE GOT HERE

* Anti-hate measures proposed by the Labor Party following the Bondi massacre were approved at the coalition joint party room meeting on Sunday

* Leading national figures were present at the meeting, but the junior coalition partner was concerned about discontent over the effects of the laws on political rights such as freedom of expression

* The spark that ignited the political divorce came on Tuesday when three National Senators breached the shadow cabinet solidarity agreement by voting against hate crimes bills.

* Senior Nationals Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald tendered their resignations to Ms Ley

* On Wednesday Ms Ley announced she had accepted three resignations despite Mr Littleproud writing to Ms Ley urging her not to accept them, arguing that the final position on the bill had not been approved by the shadow cabinet.

* In response, the National leader and nine other National shadow cabinet members tendered their resignations, but Ms Ley did not accept them

* On Thursday morning, Mr Littleproud announced the end of the partnership with the Liberals led by Ms Ley.

* Ms Ley avoided the media during a national day of mourning for the victims of the Bondi terror attack

WHAT WAS SAID

“This is a day of national mourning and as leader of the opposition and leader of the Liberal Party, my responsibility is to grieving Australians” – Opposition Leader Sussan Ley

“Sussan Ley chose to maintain her own leadership rather than continue the coalition” – Nationals leader David Littleproud

‘This process Mr Littleproud is running is completely chaotic’ – former national leader Barnaby Joyce