The former leaders of the Liberal and National parties have criticized the coalition’s leadership after a mass resignation of the shadow cabinet left the coalition a “smoldering wreck”.
Eight Nationals frontbenchers have quit the shadow cabinet in protest following the resignation of three of their colleagues following a split over new anti-hate laws.
Former Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Malcom Turnbull said that in order to form a government, the Liberal Party needs to have the Nationals on side “because it needs those regional seats”.
But now the coalition is becoming “more unelectable than before”.
“I think when they survey the scene, it looks like a smoldering wreck, right?” he told ABC Radio on Thursday morning.
His criticism of the coalition follows a public row between Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud, with the latter this morning confirming the two parties had parted ways.
“This was a rushed process,” Littleproud told reporters Thursday morning.
When asked by reporters if this meant his party was splitting from the coalition, Littleproud confirmed this was the case.
“Yes. There is no other position… our party room has made it clear that we cannot be part of a shadow ministry under Sussan Ley,” he said.
“We sit alone.”
Ley released a statement on Thursday morning saying: “This is a national day of mourning and my responsibility as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party is to Australians in mourning.”
“Today the focus must be on Jewish Australians, and indeed all Australians, as we mourn the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack.”
“Completely chaotic,” says Joyce
Former MP Barnaby Joyce has criticized the rift between the Liberals and his former party.
He previously led the party twice and announced earlier this year that he would not recontest his New England seat in 2028before joining One Nation in November.
Taking aim at Littleproud, he accused the Nationals of taking “three positions in one night” on the legislation.
“This process by Mr Littleproud is completely chaotic,” Joyce said on Thursday.
“They didn’t get through the House of Representatives, they would never get through the Senate.”
He speculated that the coalition’s dysfunction could strengthen support for One Nation.
“I think we will become stronger,” he said.
The outright resignation puts even more pressure on Ley, who has been trying to keep the coalition together since their temporary split after the 2025 federal election.
That week-long division came after the Nationals made a number of policy demands of the coalition, including a commitment to nuclear energy.
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