Australia's Liberal-National Coalition, the country's main opposition, reunited on Sunday, more than two weeks after the centre-right partners split in a row over hate speech laws.
The Coalition is back together and looking to the future, not to the past, Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley said, appearing alongside National Party leader David Littleproud in Canberra.
The Coalition split on 22 January after the Nationals, citing free speech concerns, refused to back reforms moved by the government following a tragic attack where two gunmen targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, resulting in the deaths of 15 people.
It's been disappointing, we've got to where we are but it was over a substantive issue, Littleproud commented.
Last year, the Coalition faced a significant defeat in elections, and this split marks the second division within less than a year. The previous separation in May regarding climate and energy policy was settled quickly.
The recent division stems from hate speech reforms introduced by the centre-left Labor government in response to the Bondi Beach incident. While the Liberals supported the government, the Nationals abstained from the vote and opposed the legislation in the Senate, arguing that the measures were hastily constructed and endangered free speech.
The legislation includes provisions to ban organizations perceived to spread hate and imposes stricter penalties on those advocating violence.
Ley urged her colleagues to unite for the coalition's return to government, expressing that the split had been a tough time for many supporters. I acknowledge this has been a difficult time. It has been a difficult time for millions of our Coalition supporters, and many other Australians who rely on our two great parties to provide scrutiny and leadership, she stated.
The coalition agreed that neither party could overturn decisions made by their joint shadow cabinet. Notably, this marks the first split for the coalition since 1987, although minor separations occurred last year.
The National Party largely represents regional areas and tends to hold more conservative views compared to the Liberals. Currently, they face increased pressure from the populist One Nation party, which has gained traction in polls following significant Liberal seat losses in the last federal election.
