Nationals Exit Coalition: Inside the Split with the Liberal Party

In Short

• The Catalyst: The 80-year-old Coalition pact collapsed after the Nationals refused to support a Labor-Liberal deal on the new "Bondi" hate speech and firearm laws.

• The Walkout: Following the defiance of three senators, David Littleproud led a mass resignation of the Nationals frontbench, declaring the partnership "untenable."

• The Root Causes: While the Bondi Laws were the final straw, deep-seated divides over Net Zero targets and nuclear energy funding made the divorce inevitable.

For nearly 80 years, the Liberal and National parties have been the "rock-solid" alternative to Labor in Canberra. But this week, that rock finally crumbled. In a move that has sent shockwaves from the Mallee to the Muarry, the National Party has formally walked out of the Coalition, leaving the Liberals to sit on the opposition benches alone.

If you’re wondering how a partnership that survived world wars and economic depressions could fall apart over a few days in January, you’re not alone. Here’s the breakdown of what happened and why the "bush" and the "burbs" have finally parted ways.

The Breaking Point: The "Bondi" Laws

While tensions have been simmering for years, the final straw was a bitter disagreement over the Government’s new hate speech and firearm reform package.

Following the tragic events at Bondi Beach in December 2025, the Labor government fast-tracked legislation to crack down on extremist groups and hate speech. Liberal Leader Sussan Ley reached a deal with the government to pass the laws, citing the "national interest."

However, the Nationals didn't see it that way. In their party room, the view was clear: the laws were a bridge too far for civil liberties and regional values.

The Defiance: Three National senators—Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell, and Susan McDonald—crossed the floor to vote against the bill.

The Ultimatum: Sussan Ley insisted on "Shadow Cabinet solidarity," demanding their resignations.

The Walkout: Nationals Leader David Littleproud warned that if Ley accepted those resignations, she would lose the whole team. She did, and he kept his word. On Thursday morning, the entire Nationals frontbench resigned en masse, declaring the Coalition "untenable."

The "Slow Burn" Reasons

This wasn't just about one vote. The divorce has been years in the making, driven by three core issues:

1. The Climate Clash The Nationals recently ditched their support for Net Zero by 2050, arguing that the transition was "tearing up agricultural land" and driving up power prices in the bush.

While the Liberals eventually followed suit to stay aligned, the ideological gap between inner-city Liberal moderates and regional National conservatives became a canyon.

2. The "Nuclear" Option The Nationals have been pushing hard for government-funded nuclear power and a "Regional Future Fund."

The Liberals, wary of the massive taxpayer cost and market interference, hesitated. For the Nationals, it felt like their junior partner status was being used to silence the needs of the regions.

3. Political Survival Following the 2025 election defeat, the Liberals were reduced to just 28 seats—their worst result ever. Meanwhile, the Nationals held all their lower house seats.

David Littleproud’s team felt they were "carrying the weight" of the Coalition but getting none of the say.