Nationals split on hate speech vote puts Sussan Ley’s leadership on the line
The Liberals and Nationals have split over a key vote. Now they could be facing another, more significant rupture.
After weeks of demanding parliament’s return in the wake of the Bondi massacre, Sussan Ley arrived in Canberra hoping to solidify her leadership. Instead, the Liberal leader leaves bruised, facing the prospect of another Coalition breakup.
The two Coalition partners split overnight over Labor’s contentious hate speech laws, after three Nationals frontbenchers defied shadow cabinet solidarity to vote against Ley’s deal.
It wasn’t enough to sink the bill, which passed on Labor and Liberal votes alone. But it was enough to wound — perhaps fatally — Ley’s leadership.
Ley’s authority has again been undermined.
She now faces two unappealing options: accept Nationals shadow ministers undermining her leadership, or cut them loose.
