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The shock announcement that the Nationals and Liberals were splitting on 20 May was the first time the Coalition had been dissolved since 1987.
After disagreements on policies involving supermarkets, nuclear energy, and the establishment of a $20 billion regional Australia Future Fund, Littleproud revealed the Nationals were not re-entering the Coalition agreements.
This would have resulted in each party running independently at the next federal election.
One commenter on Broker Daily said: “No chance [they will] beat Labor at the next election if they don’t settle their spat.”
However, after a little over a week, the band is back together, with Ley and Littleproud putting differences aside.
The pair were side by side at a press conference where Ley handed down the new shadow cabinet.
“Today, Dave and I have reached agreement formally to reform the coalition, and we can announce our new coalition shadow ministry, I want to thank you, David for the respectful and productive way that you and I have engaged throughout this process, and I know that we will be a great partnership going forward,” said Ley.
Some of the most relevant to industry appointments are:
- Deputy Opposition leader Ted O’Brien will be the new shadow treasurer, replacing Angus Taylor, who moves to the role of shadow defence minister.
- Jane Hume will be succeeded by James Paterson as the new shadow finance minister.
- Andrew Bragg will be the new productivity and deregulation role as well as shadow housing minister.
- Tim Wilson will be the shadow minister for industrial relations and employment and shadow minister for small business.
- Pat Conaghan was appointed shadow minister for financial services.
Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack have been dropped from the cabinet.
Each has questioned Littleproud’s leadership, with Joyce and Littleproud discussing the decision.
“I said to him ‘you don’t need to tell me, I’ve already read it in the paper and for the reasons you’ve said, so this is a superfluous conversation… I read it a week ago’,” Joyce told the ABC.
“When he finalises the ministry, if it’s quite apparent that every person picked is someone who voted for him, then you won’t have consensus.”
McCormack also said on the announcement: “I wouldn’t be human if I say I wasn’t disappointed but I have a lot to offer. I was told it was generational change and a couple of those people are older than me. You have to ask the leader, it is his prerogative … I’m disappointed but life goes on.”
Speaking on the replacement of Hume, Ley said: “She is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team who has contributed amazingly over her political career, will continue to do so and is a strong performer across a range of different subject areas.”
One attendee at the conference asked whether the drop was punishment for supporting Taylor: “How can you justify her not being in the front bench when you’ve got the likes of Alex Hawke and James McGrath have been catapulted into cabinet. Have you just has this been a bit of a get square these appointments? Has it been a get square process?”
Ley said: “Absolutely not. I’m not going to reflect on the qualities of individuals with respect to the qualities of other individuals. I don’t think that’s a fair question, and I don’t think the premise of it is reasonable, but what I will repeat is that, having spoken to every single member of my 54 member party room today, I know that we have harnessed the talent that we need in this shadow ministry going forward, but that there is a role for every single person, and opposition is not about hierarchies. It’s not about structure. It’s about getting every player on the field fighting the fight.”
When asked whether Ley or Littleproud believe they will still be leaders in three years’ time, Ley said: “I’m confident we both will.”
