Australia’s Liberal and National Parties Revive Coalition After Brief Split

The Liberal and National parties in Australia have come together again after a week of separation, reinforcing their long-standing coalition following disputes over policy directions.

Australia's Liberal and National parties have come back together, just one week after announcing their split over key policy disagreements. Leaders Sussan Ley of the Liberals and David Littleproud of the Nationals have reached an agreement to restore their coalition, which has existed in various forms since the 1940s.

Sussan Ley is slated to hold a press conference on Wednesday, where she will introduce a new shadow cabinet composed of members from both parties. The split occurred last Tuesday when Nationals leader David Littleproud expressed dissatisfaction with the inability of the two parties to align on major issues. He remarked that although the Coalition had experienced disruptions before, his focus now is on rebuilding their partnership ahead of future elections.

Recent voting results saw Labor securing a second consecutive term in a significant victory, prompting Ley, who succeeded former Liberal leader Peter Dutton, to reestablish the coalition and shift the party back toward a centre-right ideology. Tensions between the two parties had escalated, particularly concerning policies on climate and energy.

Notably, the parties have mutually decided to reverse an earlier commitment to construct seven nuclear power facilities while concurrently advocating to lift the national ban on nuclear energy. In addition, the coalition has negotiated measures surrounding regional infrastructure investments, enhancements to internet speeds and mobile connectivity in rural areas, as well as strategies to boost competition in the supermarket sector.

The reunion of the Liberal-National coalition signals a crucial moment in Australian politics as they seek to restore stability and unity amidst broader electoral challenges, echoing historical patterns of collaboration and division over the past several decades.