Daily London
In “constructive conversations” with Littleproud last night, Ley said she was willing to realign with the Nationals, if three senators who crossed the floor on hate speech laws are suspended from shadow cabinet for six months.
The Liberals’ offer is also dependent on an agreement that neither individual party room can override shadow cabinet decisions, after Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald broke ranks to vote against the hate speech bill in the Senate
Littleproud said the Nationals intend to “take our time to consider the details” of Ley’s proposition.
”The Nationals are united in our endeavours to reset the Coalition, but we won’t be providing updates on any negotiations through the media,” he said.
“It’s important we take the time to get the settings right.”
If negotiations between the two embittered parties reach an agreement, the Coalition could re-form this week.
But Littleproud is so far keeping tight-lipped on the future of the alliance, noting his party room “remains focused on the issues that matter to Australians, including protecting our rights and freedoms.”
Members of both parties congregated at St Paul’s Canberra church this morning for a traditional service to mark the beginning of the parliamentary year.
Nationals MPs there seemed to believe that a Hail Mary would be needed to soothe the rift between the parties.
“That’s where we need divine intervention,” LNP MP Scott Buchholz said.
“I’ll be praying for that, that’s exactly what I’ll be praying for,” Nationals MP Michael McCormack said of a Coalition reunion.
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