Coalition Reunites After Last-Minute Deal Between Liberals and Nationals

Coalition Set to Reunite After Last-Minute Agreement Between Party Leaders

The fractured Coalition is poised to reunite today following a dramatic eleventh-hour deal struck between Liberal and National party leaders, bringing an end to a messy three-week split that threatened the opposition's stability.

Breakthrough Talks Resolve Shadow Cabinet Standoff

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud have reached a compromise agreement that will see the Coalition partners reunite after their second major rift in just eight months. The breakthrough came following intensive negotiations on Saturday, with sources close to the discussions confirming the parties would formally announce their reconciliation on Sunday afternoon.

The conflict originated when three Nationals senators crossed the floor to vote against the Liberals on the government's hate speech legislation, breaking with the convention of shadow cabinet solidarity. Ms Ley initially demanded a six-month suspension from the shadow cabinet for the three senators, a move that prompted Mr Littleproud to withdraw the Nationals from the Coalition entirely.

Under the new agreement, the three senators will face a significantly shorter suspension period that will conclude on March 1, rather than the original six-month penalty proposed by Ms Ley. This compromise has paved the way for the Nationals to return to the shadow cabinet at the beginning of next month.

Nationals Return to Frontbench Positions

All Nationals members who left the frontbench in solidarity with the three suspended senators will resume their shadow cabinet positions at the start of March. Mr Littleproud and deputy leader Kevin Hogan will immediately return to attending shadow cabinet meetings in their leadership capacities.

Notably, the Nationals will retain their committee positions, which had been under threat of being axed by the Liberals during the height of the conflict. This preservation of committee roles represents a significant concession from the Liberal leadership.

Leadership Challenges and Structural Issues Remain

The reconciliation comes after speculation that Ms Ley's position as Opposition Leader was under serious threat, with Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor reportedly considering a leadership challenge in response to the Coalition split. Just days ago, many political observers believed the Coalition partnership was beyond repair.

Despite the impending reunion, significant challenges remain for the Coalition. The partnership must address structural issues, including an expected shift to the right by the Nationals as they attempt to protect their voter base from One Nation. This marks the second time in less than a year that the Coalition has fractured, raising questions about the long-term stability of the political alliance.

The Nationals spent last week sitting on the crossbench during the first ordinary sitting week of the year, leaving Ms Ley's frontbench noticeably depleted. The resolution of this conflict comes as a relief to opposition strategists who feared the split would undermine their effectiveness in holding the government to account.

Mr Littleproud declined to provide specific details about his conversations with Ms Ley, maintaining that the focus should remain on the Coalition's renewed commitment to working together. The agreement represents a pragmatic solution to what had become a damaging public dispute between the two conservative parties.