The coalition might be enjoying a “reset” under new leadership but a test for the parties’ mended relationship is coming fast.
Newly elected Liberal leader Angus Taylor announced on Tuesday that suspended Nationals would be reinstated to the front bench when he unveiled his shadow ministry.
He allowed the Nationals MPs and senators serving a six-week suspension, part of the coalition reunion negotiated by ousted leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud, to return to their roles immediately.
The coalition’s messy split occurred in January and lasted 17 days after a row over hate speech laws that were made in response to the Bondi terror attack.
Ross Cadell, who was one of the three Nationals senators who crossed the floor over the contentious laws, said Mr Taylor waiving the suspension was “the reset that the coalition needed”.
“We had problems right from the beginning last time with the split. This is an unexpected and welcome accommodation,” he told AAP.
“If you want to know about the relationship, Littleproud and Angus had dinner on Friday night and got on well.
“I don’t think I ever heard of David and Sussan sharing a cup of tea, let alone having a meal.”
Nationals MP Michael McCormack said Mr Taylor would bring a fresh approach to the coalition.
“Angus has obviously seen that it would be sensible to bring the National Party shadow ministers back into the … that’s appropriate, that’s sensible, that’s practical,” he said.
The shadow ministry reshuffle comes after Mr Taylor ousted Ms Ley in a party room spill last week after dire polling and infighting sparked calls for a leadership change.
A by-election looms for Ms Ley’s long-held seat of Farrer after she announced her resignation from parliament.
The two coalition partners do not typically compete against each other in most seats, but Farrer, which includes Griffith and the border city of Albury, is an exception.
The real test in the coalition’s “rejuvenated” relationship might lie in how the by-election unfolded, ANU political expert Zareh Ghazarian said.
“That may potentially be a point of friction between the two parties … it might pit them against each other,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“It will be interesting to see the tone and the temperament of the debate between the coalition parties.
“That will give us a sense in real time about how the rejuvenated coalition is operating.”
Asked whether Mr Taylor and Mr Littleproud struck a new coalition agreement, deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume would not be drawn on details.
“That’s not something we talk about it public,” she told ABC TV.
“They’ve spoken to each other every single day since they have a very good working relationship, and I’m really looking forward to now the coalition uniting.”
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
