Full Story The Coalition has collapsed, will Ley’s leadership?
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Jan 22, 2026 Join political editor Tom McIlroy as he dives into the fallout from Labor's controversial hate speech legislation that has shattered the Coalition. With the entire Nationals front bench resigning from Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet, Tom analyzes the implications for her leadership. He discusses potential challengers, including Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie, alongside the underlying tensions that have fueled this split. As the Coalition grapples with its chaos, Tom sheds light on how this scenario could benefit Labor and reshape political dynamics in Australia.
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Nationals Frontbench Resignations
- Tom McIlroy recounts the Nationals' frontbench resignations and Littleproud's warning to Ley before they left.
- He describes the Nationals' exit as a clear, public rupture that will see them sit apart in Parliament.
Coalition Split Weakens Opposition
- The Nationals have formally split from the coalition under Sussan Ley due to accepted frontbench resignations.
- That separation makes the opposition weaker and puts Ley's leadership under immediate pressure.
Leadership Challenge Now Likely
- Sussan Ley already faced poor polling and internal criticism before this crisis, making a challenge likely.
- The split significantly raises the probability of a leadership challenge against Ley this year.