Sussan Ley and David Littleproud Reunite Coalition After Three-Week Split
Ley and Littleproud announced on May 28, 2025, that the Liberal and National parties have reunited after a three-week split over hate-speech laws.
Overview
Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley and Nationals Leader David Littleproud announced at a press conference in Canberra on May 28, 2025, that the Liberal and National parties have reunited after a three-week split.
The split began on Jan. 22 when the Nationals refused to back Labor's hate-speech reforms introduced after two gunmen targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December, killing 15 people, party records show.
Sussan Ley told reporters in Parliament House that "the Coalition is back together and looking to the future" and said she was "very confident about the overwhelming support" of her party room, party officials said.
Ley had given the Nationals an ultimatum in late May to rejoin or face a permanent Liberal-only frontbench, and under the deal all former Nationals frontbenchers will be suspended from the shadow ministry until March, party releases said.
Under the agreement David Littleproud and Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan will attend shadow cabinet and senior leadership meetings despite not holding frontbench positions, and Liberal sources said Angus Taylor has signaled ongoing leadership ambitions that could prompt a challenge.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally, using factual language, balanced quotes from both Liberal and National leaders, and concise context about the split (date, free-speech rationale, election loss). They avoid evaluative adjectives, prioritize concrete actions and statements, and include the reconciliation agreement without editorializing.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The split began when the Nationals refused to support Labor's hate-speech laws, introduced after a December mass shooting at a Jewish festival in Bondi Beach that killed 15 people, leading Nationals to resign from shadow cabinet en masse.[1]
Former Nationals frontbenchers are suspended from the shadow ministry for six weeks (backdated to January 21), after which they are reinstated; Littleproud and deputy Kevin Hogan will attend shadow cabinet and leadership meetings immediately.
Two gunmen targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December, killing 15 people, after which Labor introduced hate-speech reforms.[3]
Sussan Ley stated she trusts David Littleproud 100% and values the Nationals; Littleproud confirmed he trusts Ley and the Liberals, affirming this team will go to the next election.[1]
The Coalition faces pressure from One Nation surging in polls, Liberals losing seats in the last election, and this being the second split in less than a year, amid tensions over leadership.
History
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