‘Lost trust’: party split drives leadership speculation
Firebrand conservative senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has fueled leadership speculation after the Liberals and Nationals broke up for the second time since the federal election.
After abandoning the almost century-old political alliance, National Party leader David Littleproud announced on Wednesday that his party would not reunite with the Liberals and that Sussan Ley would remain as opposition leader.
“Our party room has made it clear that we cannot be part of a shadow ministry under Sussan Ley,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
Insiders in both parties believe this divide will last much longer than the one that lasted the week following Labour’s landslide election victory in May 2025.
Senator Price, who switched from the National party to the Liberal party after the election, has previously said he does not trust Ms Ley’s leadership.
“I think I made it clear that the leader had lost his trust, his faith in me, and I think I felt the same at the time,” he told Sky News on Thursday night.
“I don’t think things are getting any better… that’s ultimately a decision for the party room to make,” Senator Price said.
The Liberals are preparing to challenge Ms Ley’s leadership, possibly when parliament meets in February, although exact details about the timing have not yet been finalized.
Conservatives Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are seen as Ms Ley’s most likely successors.
But a Liberal source warned that his fiery conservative policies would do little to win over new voters, describing Mr Hastie as a “One Nation-lite”.
Mr Taylor also carries baggage from his time as shadow treasurer; Some Liberals claim he did not do enough to improve economic policy ahead of the election.
Rumors of a possible challenge to Mr Littleproud are also circulating.
Former Nationals forward Susan McDonald insisted Mr Littleproud’s position was now secure and said she hoped coalition partners could quickly rejoin forces.
But he warned that the reunion would not happen immediately.
“I’m quite optimistic that the coalition will come together again at some point, because we know that we are stronger if we are united,” he told AAP.
“But current circumstances seem to suggest that I think that’s unlikely in the near term.”
On Wednesday night, the entire National Party frontbencher submitted their resignations, dissolving the coalition for the second time since the last federal election.
Mr Littleproud said he was preparing a new preliminary group consisting solely of National members; This is a sign that the divide may continue for a while.
