Australian Nationals Frontbench Resigns Amid Coalition Split Over Hate Speech Laws

Nationals Frontbench Steps Down Over Hate Speech Legislation

The entire frontbench of the Australian Nationals party, including leader David Littleproud, has resigned from the shadow cabinet, plunging the Coalition into disarray. This significant political event unfolded after a contentious vote on the Labor government's new hate speech laws, which saw three Nationals senators break ranks and cross the floor. The resignations, confirmed on January 21, 2026, signal a profound split within the Coalition, with Littleproud stating the Nationals would now 'sit by ourselves'.

Division Over New Hate Speech Laws

The catalyst for the mass resignations was the passing of new anti-hate speech legislation by the Australian Parliament on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. These laws were swiftly drafted in response to a tragic December 14 anti-Semitic terror attack at Bondi Beach that resulted in 15 fatalities. The legislation aims to:

• Outlaw extremist groups.
• Strengthen powers to cancel visas for individuals expressing extremist ideologies.
• Increase penalties for religious leaders who promote violence.

While the Liberal Party, led by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, negotiated amendments to narrow the bill's focus to combating antisemitism and radical Islamist extremism, the Nationals maintained strong opposition. Nationals leader David Littleproud argued that the legislation was rushed and could impinge on free speech, calling for greater protections against unintended consequences.

Senators Defy Cabinet Solidarity

The immediate trigger for the crisis came when three Nationals senators – Ross Cadell, Bridget McKenzie, and Susan McDonald – defied the Coalition's agreed position and voted against the hate speech bill. This act breached the principle of 'cabinet solidarity,' which requires shadow ministers to vote in alignment with the shadow cabinet's decisions. Following their vote, the trio offered their resignations from the shadow cabinet, which Sussan Ley accepted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Coalition Faces Second Split

In a show of solidarity and in line with a party room decision to oppose the bill, the remaining Nationals frontbenchers, including David Littleproud, tendered their resignations. Littleproud explicitly confirmed the Coalition had split over the new anti-hate laws, asserting that Sussan Ley had placed the Nationals in an 'untenable position'. This marks the second significant split within the Coalition since the May 2025 federal election. Ley has urged the Nationals to reconsider their resignations, emphasizing the importance of the Coalition arrangement for effective governance and stating that no permanent changes to the shadow ministry would be made immediately.