The Coalition has reunited after Sussan Ley brokered a deal with David Littleproud to bring the Liberals and Nationals back together for the second time since the May 2025 election. Littleproud guaranteed there would be no further splits while he and Ley were in charge, after both leaders made significant concessions to end a damaging period for the struggling conservative parties.
The Liberal and Nationals leaders announced the peace deal at a joint press conference in Canberra on Sunday afternoon, less than three weeks after Littleproud blew up the Coalition and declared the political alliance “untenable” under Ley in a rift over Labor’s hate speech laws. Under the deal, all former Nationals frontbenchers will be suspended from the shadow ministry until March before resuming in their old portfolios.
Ley had given the Nationals until Monday to reunite before she proceeded with a permanent Liberal-only frontbench. The compromise saw Littleproud and Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan attend shadow cabinet and other senior leadership meetings during the suspension period. Both leaders made concessions: Ley dropped her demand for a six-month suspension of the three Nationals senators who crossed the floor, while the Nationals agreed to a short suspension for all former frontbenchers.
The patch-up marks the second time the two parties have split and reformed in less than 12 months. Former Liberal prime minister John Howard and senior conservatives publicly advocated for reconciliation, while others, including many moderates, were comfortable with a period apart. The prospect of reuniting has divided the Liberals and heaped pressure on Ley as she faces a potential leadership challenge from conservative rival Angus Taylor.
