After a short-lived separation, Australia’s Liberal-National Coalition has reunited, setting the stage for a new shadow cabinet under Liberal leader Sussan Ley. This development follows disagreements over key policies, particularly surrounding energy and climate.
Australia's Liberal-National Coalition Reunites After Brief Split
Australia's Liberal-National Coalition Reunites After Brief Split
The Liberal-National Coalition in Australia is back together just a week after a contentious split, with leadership changes and new policy agreements on the horizon.
Australia's major opposition parties, the Liberals and Nationals, have mended their rift, emerging from a split that lasted just one week. The leaders of both parties, Liberal head Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud, have come to an agreement to restore their long-standing partnership known as the Coalition. As reported, Ley plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday to introduce a restructured shadow cabinet that incorporates members from both factions.
The coalition fractured last Tuesday when disagreements over significant policy decisions led Littleproud to announce the split publicly. He emphasized the Coalition’s history of breaking apart and reuniting, expressing his commitment to working with Ley to rebuild and reintegrate the two parties before the upcoming elections.
Ley recently succeeded Peter Dutton, taking the helm amid the Liberal Party's defeat to the Labor Party, which secured its second consecutive term in office with an overwhelming victory. Ley aims to reposition the Liberals back toward the center-right to win back support. The relationship between the two parties has been increasingly strained, with especially contentious issues surrounding energy, climate, and regional policies.
According to local media, the renewed partnership signals a shift in strategy, including an agreement to drop previous plans for building seven nuclear power plants while simultaneously advocating for the lifting of the national ban on nuclear energy. Additionally, both parties have come together to address essential topics like regional infrastructure investments, improving internet and mobile coverage in rural areas, and enhancing competition in the supermarket sector.
Historically, the Liberal-National Coalition has weathered multiple separations and reunifications since its inception in the 1940s, with the last significant division occurring nearly four decades ago in 1987.
