In Short:

Jamie Chaffey has resigned from the Coalition Shadow Ministry following disputes over legislation introduced after the December 14 Bondi terrorist attack

Chaffey expressed concerns about the lack of consultation on gun law reform and hate speech bills, which he says were drafted in haste

The resignation follows the removal of three National Party Senators from the Coalition frontbench after they voted against the legislation

Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey has resigned from the Coalition Shadow Ministry following disputes over how Parliament handled legislation introduced in response to the December 14 Bondi terrorist attack.

In a statement released today on the National Day of Mourning for victims of the attack, Chaffey said the decision was not made lightly but was necessary due to concerns about the legislative process and treatment of National Party colleagues.

"It is deeply important to me to represent the people of Parkes and regional Australians at the highest possible level, to be in the room to make decisions whenever possible," Chaffey said. "But what happened in Parliament this week strikes at the heart of democracy and our ability to have our constituents' needs and opinions heard."

The December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which Chaffey described as an act of Islamic extremism targeting the Jewish community, has been called Australia's worst terrorist attack on home soil. In response, the government introduced two bills addressing gun law reform and hate speech reform.

Chaffey expressed concern that both bills were drafted hastily with insufficient time for examination of their extensive implications. "These are Bills with ramifications across the country," he said. "The Nationals were very rightly alarmed at the lack of consultation, at the ongoing implications, at the absolute unwillingness of the Labor Government to listen to what Australians want."

The resignation follows the removal of three National Party Senators from the Coalition frontbench after they voted against the legislation. Chaffey said he stood behind those Senators for having the courage to vote according to their concerns about the bills.

"It was unfair that these Senators have been removed from the Coalition frontbench," Chaffey said. "I don't want to be part of a Shadow Ministry that does not listen to its members."

Chaffey stated that Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has refused to reinstate the Senators, prompting his decision to resign from the Shadow Ministry. The resignation means Chaffey will continue to represent the Parkes electorate as a backbencher while no longer holding a shadow portfolio.

For constituents across the Parkes electorate, which covers vast areas of western New South Wales including communities in Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and beyond, the resignation raises questions about regional representation in opposition decision making processes. The gun law reforms in particular have implications for rural Australians, many of whom hold firearms licenses for agricultural and sporting purposes.

Chaffey expressed confidence in the National Party's future direction despite his resignation. "I am confident that going forward, the conviction, the experience and the ethics of the National Party will see us make the right decisions for Australians," he said.

The statement concluded with Chaffey remembering the Australians who lost their lives in the Bondi attack, adding "May this never happen again."

The resignation marks a significant fracture within the Coalition opposition, with the dispute highlighting tensions between Liberal and National party members over how to respond to the government's legislative agenda following the terrorist attack.