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Ley and Littleproud attempt to reunite Coalition as parties wrestle over net zero and nuclear Ley and Littleproud attempt to reunite Coalition as parties wrestle over net zero and nuclear
(32 minutes later)
Talks continue following election defeat as MPs jostle for shadow cabinet positions Talks continue after election defeat as MPs jostle for shadow cabinet positions
The Liberals are pushing to stitch up a coalition agreement with the Nationals within days as the jostling for shadow cabinet positions ramps up. The Liberals are pushing to stitch up a Coalition agreement with the Nationals within days as the jostling for shadow cabinet positions ramps up.
The new Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, held another round of talks on Monday on a deal to reunite the two parties following the election defeat. The new Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, held another round of talks on Monday on a deal to reunite the two parties after the election defeat.
The Liberals want to remain in a coalition – which is renegotiated after each election – but don’t want to sign up to a deal that locks them into policies, as both parties wrestle with their positions on net zero by 2050 and nuclear power.The Liberals want to remain in a coalition – which is renegotiated after each election – but don’t want to sign up to a deal that locks them into policies, as both parties wrestle with their positions on net zero by 2050 and nuclear power.
The new Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, revealed the party was seeking to enshrine the $20bn regional future fund in the agreement and wanted “flexibility” in on what portfolios it could hold.The new Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, revealed the party was seeking to enshrine the $20bn regional future fund in the agreement and wanted “flexibility” in on what portfolios it could hold.
Hogan said it was the Nationals’ “intention” to reunite the Coalition but insisted the country party wouldn’t sign up to a deal that meant “selling out our constituents and the people we represent”.Hogan said it was the Nationals’ “intention” to reunite the Coalition but insisted the country party wouldn’t sign up to a deal that meant “selling out our constituents and the people we represent”.
The agreement would settle the number of shadow cabinet positions each partner was entitled to.The agreement would settle the number of shadow cabinet positions each partner was entitled to.
The Nationals had seven spots in Peter Dutton’s shadow cabinet after the NT senator, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, was promoted in 2023 to lead the fight against the voice to parliament. The Nationals had seven spots in Peter Dutton’s shadow cabinet after the NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was promoted in 2023 to lead the fight against the voice to parliament.
With Price defecting to the Liberals and the Nationals deputy leader, Perin Davey, losing her seat, the junior partner is poised to lose one spot. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
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With Price defecting to the Liberals and the Nationals deputy leader, Perin Davey, losing her seat, the junior partner was poised to lose one spot.
The signing of a new agreement would clear the path for Ley to finalise her first shadow ministry.The signing of a new agreement would clear the path for Ley to finalise her first shadow ministry.
After narrowly defeating Angus Taylor 29 votes to 25 in last week’s leadership ballot, Ley faces an immediate challenge to unify the party. After narrowly defeating Angus Taylor 29 votes to 25 in last week’s Liberal leadership ballot, Ley faced an immediate challenge to unify the party.
The new leader has privately assured Liberal colleagues that reports supporters such as Alex Hawke, Jason Wood and Scott Buchholz were promised frontbench roles were false, and that positions would be assigned on merit. The new leader had privately assured Liberal colleagues that reports supporters such as Alex Hawke, Jason Wood and Scott Buchholz were promised frontbench roles were false, and that positions would be assigned on merit.
The new deputy Liberal leader, Ted O’Brien, is widely expected to become the shadow treasurer, replacing Taylor. The new deputy Liberal leader, Ted O’Brien, was widely expected to become the shadow treasurer, replacing Taylor.
Liberal MPs expect Taylor to remain in shadow cabinet, possibly in either the defence or foreign affairs portfolios. Either role would shift the right-faction heavyweight out of frontline domestic politics but keep him in a senior role. Liberal MPs expected Taylor to remain in shadow cabinet, possibly in either the defence or foreign affairs portfolios. Either role would shift the right-faction heavyweight out of frontline domestic politics but keep him in a senior role.
James Paterson is said to be interested in a move from home affairs to either defence or foreign affairs, according to multiple Liberal MPs speaking anonymously to discuss internal matters. James Paterson was said to be interested in a move from home affairs to either defence or foreign affairs, according to multiple Liberal MPs speaking anonymously to discuss internal matters.
Frontbencher Dan Tehan and backbencher Dave Sharma have also been mentioned for the foreign affairs role, although some Liberal MPs believe elevating Sharma straight into cabinet would be too big a promotion for the NSW senator. Frontbencher Dan Tehan and backbencher Dave Sharma had also been mentioned for the foreign affairs role, although some Liberal MPs believed elevating Sharma straight into cabinet would be too big a promotion for the NSW senator.
The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, is eyeing a move to an economy-related portfolio, such as business, industry, employment or even resources. Sign up to Breaking News Australia
Jane Hume is tipped to be moved out of finance, with the fellow senator Andrew Bragg mentioned as a possible replacement. Get the most important news as it breaks
The future of Price is a point of contention among Liberals. after newsletter promotion
The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, was eyeing a move to an economy-related portfolio, such as business, industry, employment or even resources.
Jane Hume was tipped to be moved out of finance, with the fellow senator Andrew Bragg mentioned as a possible replacement.
The future of Price was a point of contention among Liberals.
One Liberal MP said Ley should demote the “divisive” NT senator from the shadow cabinet and tell her to “wait her turn”.One Liberal MP said Ley should demote the “divisive” NT senator from the shadow cabinet and tell her to “wait her turn”.
But another Liberal source said it would be “unwise” to banish Price to the backbench, where she would have freedom to use her profile on platforms such as Sky News to agitate on policy.But another Liberal source said it would be “unwise” to banish Price to the backbench, where she would have freedom to use her profile on platforms such as Sky News to agitate on policy.
As the Liberals and Nationals weigh up their climate and energy policies, Littleproud and Hogan hinted the party might consider scaling back its position on nuclear power to simply lifting the federal ban rather than building taxpayer-funded reactors. As the Liberals and Nationals weighed up their climate and energy policies, Littleproud and Hogan hinted the party may consider scaling back its position on nuclear power to simply lifting the federal ban rather than building taxpayer-funded reactors.
A growing rump of Liberal MPs already support that revised approach and O’Brien – the architect of the nuclear plan – expects it be canvassed as the party reviews its position. A growing rump of Liberal MPs already supported that revised approach and O’Brien – the architect of the nuclear plan – expected it to be canvassed as the party reviews its position.
The two parties are separately reviewing their support for net zero, with forces inside both pushing for the 2050 target to be ditched altogether.The two parties are separately reviewing their support for net zero, with forces inside both pushing for the 2050 target to be ditched altogether.
On Monday, Hume suggested abandoning net zero would be at odds with the message voters sent at the 3 May poll.On Monday, Hume suggested abandoning net zero would be at odds with the message voters sent at the 3 May poll.
Another Liberal MP said it would be “unwise and unnecessary” to dump the target, with investors already making decisions based on bipartisan support for the 2050 target.Another Liberal MP said it would be “unwise and unnecessary” to dump the target, with investors already making decisions based on bipartisan support for the 2050 target.