CANBERRA, January 21, 2026 11:02:00 —
All remaining Nationals in the Australian Parliament’s shadow ministry have resigned in protest after three colleagues were removed from their positions for opposing new hate speech legislation.
- All members of the Nationals party have resigned from the Coalition frontbench.
- The resignations follow the acceptance of the resignations of Senators Ross Cadell, Bridget McKenzie and Susan McDonald by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
- The Nationals senators voted against their party’s position on Labor’s amended hate speech laws.
- Nationals leader David Littleproud had warned Opposition Leader Ley of a mass exodus if the senators were removed.
All eight remaining Nationals in the shadow ministry have resigned from their roles in solidarity with three senior colleagues who were removed for opposing new hate laws, sources within the Nationals party confirmed on Tuesday.
The mass resignation, a threat first issued to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Tuesday, was triggered after Ley accepted the resignations of Senators Ross Cadell, Bridget McKenzie and Susan McDonald. The senators went against the position resolved by the shadow cabinet and voted against Labor’s amended and watered-down hate laws, according to reports.
Nationals Respond to Shadow Cabinet Resignations
Following Ley’s announcement, the Nationals convened a snap meeting on Wednesday evening, resolving after 90 minutes that all remaining members of the frontbench would quit their positions. Nationals leader David Littleproud had advised Ley that this would occur if she accepted the resignations of Cadell, McKenzie and McDonald.
Shadow Assistant Treasurer Pat Conaghan announced his resignation in a statement, citing his opposition to the hate laws backed by the Liberals. “While I and my National Party colleagues fully support the intent of the legislation, we do not support the rushed iteration that has been presented,” he said.
In a statement, Ley acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for the Nationals party room. She stated that when the Coalition reformed following the party’s election loss, the Nationals agreed to the “foundational principle” that they would adhere to decisions of the shadow cabinet.
“Last night three Nationals senators were unable to maintain that shadow cabinet solidarity,” Ley said. “This is an unfortunate circumstance and one that requires action. [The senators] have each offered their resignations from the shadow cabinet, as is appropriate, and I have accepted them.”
Senator Cadell had previously stated he was prepared to be sacked or resign over his decision, saying, “I am willing to take the consequences of my actions, I think that is fair. I can’t do the crime if I’m not prepared to do the time.”
Why It Matters
This mass resignation represents a significant fracture within the Liberal-National Coalition, potentially weakening the opposition’s ability to effectively challenge the Labor government. The dispute over the hate speech legislation highlights deep divisions within the Coalition regarding the balance between free speech and protections against hate speech, and could signal further instability within the opposition ranks.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by ABC News and added independent analysis and context.
