Liberal-National coalition re-unites in Australia amid hate speech split

In an unexpected turnaround amid ongoing political turmoil, Australia’s Conservative Coalition unexpectedly rejoined on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The Liberal Party and their junior partner, the Nationals, had previously split earlier in the year over disputes regarding new hate speech laws that Labor-backed but were opposed by some National Party senators.

The coalition’s reassembly comes after a recent media conference held from Canberra, where Liberal Party leader Susan Ley addressed reporters alongside National Party chief David Littleproud. The alliance is now focused on its future rather than past divisions.

Last month marked the Nationals’ severance of ties with the Liberals following Labor’s adoption of anti-hate speech laws in parliament post-December’s mass shooting that claimed 15 lives. These new regulations were initially backed by both the Liberal Party and some National Party senators, though there were dissenting voices within the latter group.

“Disappointingly,” Littleproud admitted, “we are where we are now but it was about a substantive issue.” This internal conflict has led to recent challenges for the coalition. One of the most significant issues is the surge in polling support from Senator Pauline Hanson’s anti-immigration One Nation party, coupled with the Liberal Party’s losses at the federal election last year.

The coalition’s reformation marks the second split within less than a year following the Nationals’ separation from the Liberals over disagreements on new hate-speech legislation after the deadly Bondi Beach incident. This recent realignment underscores how contentious social policies can strain even long-standing political alliances in Australia’s tumultuous political landscape.