Rival leaders dig in as clock ticks on coalition deal
The ball is in Sussan Ley’s court as she considers the Nationals’ counter-offer to re-establish the coalition.
But the split is expected to continue as the Liberal leader presses ahead with plans to name a new leadership team.
The National Party has proposed that all former shadow ministers remain on the bench for two weeks before rejoining the political marriage.
They would have to spend six months on the backbenchers for breaking shadow cabinet solidarity under the reunification bid put forward by Ms Ley.
The outrage began in mid-January when National Senators Ross Cadell, Susan McDonald and Bridget McKenzie voted against hate speech legislation, which the shadow cabinet had agreed to support.
All three tendered their resignations, and Ms Ley accepted them, leading to the collapse of the coalition.
Mr Littleproud said that while the changes were being worked on, had it not been for the timing, his colleagues in the shadow ministry would have abstained rather than voting against the legislation in the lower house.
He claimed that the senators did not break solidarity because the bill submitted to the Senate was significantly changed compared to what was decided in the cabinet and an official position was not adopted at the joint party room meeting.
The Liberal leader is unlikely to accept the National Party’s counteroffer as he believes it is a stalling tactic to prolong coalition talks.
Ms Ley had given the Nationals until Sunday to come to the table before announcing Liberal candidates for her shadow cabinet and ministry, while Mr Littleproud said he would not be bound by an arbitrary deadline.
This could entrench the division for longer, as colleagues given a significant pay rise and extra staff to manage their portfolios will become harder to fire.
It is also complicating the political calculations as Liberal frontrunner Angus Taylor is planning a leadership coup against the party’s first female leader, with some supporters predicting a challenge as early as next week.
With only a handful of votes separating the duo, Ms Ley could bolster support by encouraging players to step back rather than wait for the Nationals to come to the table.
Mr Littleproud has a rocky relationship with Ms Ley going back years and has openly questioned her leadership.
Delaying negotiations, and thus delaying the naming of more Liberal frontbenchers, could ultimately help the Liberal leadership decide in Mr Taylor’s favor by taking a card from Ms Ley’s deck.
The National Party’s withdrawal just days before the Liberals were expected to question public servants about shortcomings has left the former coalition’s senate bidding tactics in disarray.
Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the only way to fend off populist, right-wing parties such as One Nation, which are rising in the polls due to a split in the coalition, is to produce credible policies that address people’s grievances.
This includes important issues such as housing affordability, health, education and infrastructure, he said.
“If people despair that traditional parties can’t solve the problem, ‘what have I got to lose?'” he said in Sydney. “They will ask.”
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