Coalition collapse turns ugly over 'cabinet solidarity'
The Liberal and National parties are locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over why their political marriage fell apart.
The estranged coalition partners have accused one another of making false claims about the reasons behind the split.
The Nationals allege the break up occurred because they could not secure commitments on key policies.
The Liberals claim the conservative relationship collapsed due to a disagreement over shadow cabinet solidarity, which binds members to publicly support collective decisions, even if they disagree internally.
After several days of internal squabbling, this dispute flared again on Thursday following a dramatic intervention from the Nationals leader.
David Littleproud claimed cabinet solidarity was never up for debate.
"I thought it was fair and reasonable," he told reporters at Parliament House.
"I made it very clear I had no issue with it ... there was no discussion about it."
Mr Littleproud said his negotiations with Liberal leader Sussan Ley centred on four non-negotiable policies.
These included support for nuclear energy, break-up powers for supermarkets, a regional Australia future fund and reliable telco coverage in rural areas.
Through a spokesman, Ms Ley rejected the Nationals' assertions regarding cabinet solidarity.
"We have in writing that it was a requirement from their leader's office to ours."
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said the political divorce was understandable, but regrettable.
"Let's get over the electoral PTSD and let's get back together again as quickly as possible," he told Sydney radio 2GB.
"If the Libs and the Nats go their separate ways, we won't have one strong opposition - we'll have two opposition parties that are fighting each other as much as they're fighting a bad government."
Statement regarding our decision not to enter into a Coalition Agreement with the Liberal Party. pic.twitter.com/gQAeUHHQa7
— David Littleproud MP (@D_LittleproudMP) May 20, 2025
The man who led the Nationals during the party's last divorce from the Liberals believes the coalition partners will eventually reunite.
Ian Sinclair was leader of the Nationals during the coalition's five-month split in 1987.
He is confident the latest trial separation will not last forever, saying a split after an election wasn't unusual and issues would eventually be resolved.
"It has happened before and will happen again," Mr Sinclair told AAP.
"It's quite a healthy thing."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
4 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy
FORT MACLEOD - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause, and placards. The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. A new study by Alberta government scientists, which has yet to be peer reviewed, recently said old coal mines on the eastern slopes are poisoning fish and any further coal mining there would result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. The premier also jousted with protesters while speaking to reporters before the town hall, where concerns about water, agriculture and wildlife were also raised. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy
FORT MACLEOD — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause, and placards. The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. A new study by Alberta government scientists, which has yet to be peer reviewed, recently said old coal mines on the eastern slopes are poisoning fish and any further coal mining there would result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. The premier also jousted with protesters while speaking to reporters before the town hall, where concerns about water, agriculture and wildlife were also raised. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Pentagon Is Reviewing Deal to Equip Australia With Nuclear Submarines
The Trump administration is reviewing whether a security pact between the United States, Britain and Australia meant to equip Australia with nuclear submarines is 'aligned with the president's America First agenda,' a U.S. defense official said on Wednesday. When the deal was reached under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s administration in 2021, it was billed as crucial for countering China's growing military influence in the Asia Pacific. Now, its review appears to reinforce President Trump's skeptical and transactional approach to longstanding alliances, including demands that allies spend more on their own defense. The Pentagon official said the review would ensure that the pact, known as Aukus, met 'common-sense, America First criteria,' including ensuring that U.S. forces are at 'the highest readiness,' that allies are doing their part, and that 'the defense industrial base is meeting our needs.' The review was first reported by The Financial Times. Australia's defense minister, Richard Marles, said both Australia and Britain had been notified about the review and that all three nations were still committed to the deal. 'We've been aware of this for some time. We welcome it,' Mr. Marles said in a radio interview with ABC Melbourne on Thursday, Australia time. 'It's something which is perfectly natural for an incoming administration to do.' Australia sees the Aukus agreement as central to its defense strategy in the coming decades in a region increasingly shaped by China's assertive military posturing. Nuclear submarines can travel much farther without detection than conventional ones can and would enable the Australian Navy to greatly extend its reach. Under the pact, Australia is scheduled to receive secondhand Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the United States in the 2030s while scaling up the capacity to build its own, using a British design. But there has been concern in both Washington and Canberra about whether the United States can build new submarines to replenish its fleet quickly enough for the older ones to be transferred to Australia. Elbridge Colby, the U.S. under secretary of defense for policy, said during his Senate confirmation hearing in March that he was skeptical about the pragmatic feasibility of the deal. The Financial Times reported that Mr. Colby was heading up the Pentagon review. 'So if we can produce the attack submarines in sufficient number and sufficient speed, then great,' Mr. Colby said at the hearing. 'But if we can't, that becomes a very difficult problem.' Even before the review was announced, concern and anxiety had been building in Australia over whether it could continue to depend on its longstanding relationship with the United States, given the Trump administration's treatment of allies. Mr. Marles, the Australian defense minister, said in the radio interview that he was confident the Aukus deal would proceed because 'it's in the interests of the United States to continue to work with Australia.' Michael D. Shear contributed reporting from Washington.
