In a significant development within Australian political circles, Nationals leader David Littleproud has turned down an offer from Liberal leader Sussan Ley for talks this week. The proposed meeting, aimed at discussing the relationship between the two parties following last week's dramatic Coalition split, was rejected as Littleproud's attention remains firmly fixed on an impending motion to spill the Nationals leadership.
Ley's Unconditional Offer and Littleproud's Rejection
Sussan Ley extended an olive branch to David Littleproud in a letter sent on Tuesday night, proposing a meeting "without any preconditions" to address the fallout from the Coalition's break-up. In her communication to Liberal MPs, Ley emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong and functional relationship between the Liberal and National parties, stating it serves the national interest, regardless of whether they are in a formal Coalition or not.
However, Littleproud declined the invitation, with sources confirming his decision was driven by a desire to respect the party-room process. His focus is squarely on a leadership spill motion that disgruntled backbencher Colin Boyce plans to move at a Nationals party-room meeting on Monday.
Boyce's Leadership Challenge and Party Unrest
Colin Boyce, the MP for Flynn, has accused Littleproud of leading the Nationals "over a political cliff" by splitting with the Liberals, a move he describes as "political suicide" that could leave the party more vulnerable to threats from One Nation. Boyce has stated he will stand as a candidate if the spill motion succeeds, though he has denied speculation about defecting to One Nation, following in the footsteps of former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
Despite Boyce's ambitions, senior Nationals figures have dismissed his prospects. Matt Canavan and Darren Chester have both ruled out running for the leadership themselves, with Chester criticising Boyce's bid as "self-indulgent Canberra games" that lack impact on local communities. Nationals MPs express confidence that Littleproud retains majority support, though some unrest persists over his role in the second Coalition blow-up within eight months.
Pathways to Reconciliation and Future Moves
In the wake of the Coalition's dissolution, Sussan Ley has authorised a small group of shadow ministers, including Ted O'Brien and Dan Tehan, to maintain open lines of communication with the Nationals. This move creates a potential pathway for future reconciliation, indicating Ley's openness to reuniting the Coalition or at least preserving a working relationship, despite anger among many Liberals over the Nationals' conduct.
Littleproud has signalled a willingness to re-enter a Coalition if Ley agrees to reinstate the three Nationals senators who resigned after crossing the floor on Labor's hate speech laws. Ley's acceptance of those resignations triggered the entire Nationals frontbench to quit, ultimately leading to the Coalition's collapse.
Implications for Parliamentary Return
With last-minute peace talks failing to materialise, Sussan Ley is now expected to proceed with announcing a Liberal-only frontbench ahead of parliament's return on Tuesday. An announcement is anticipated after the memorial service for former Liberal MP Katie Allen on Thursday. Concurrently, Littleproud is likely to assign portfolios to the Nationals as early as this week.
Speculation about a challenge to Ley's leadership has subsided, with potential contenders Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie yet to publicly confirm their intentions. As both parties navigate this turbulent period, the focus remains on internal stability and the broader political landscape in Australia.
