Coalition under threat as three Nationals senators resign from frontbench after crossing floor | Coalition | The Guardian

The Coalition is under threat as three Nationals senators resigned from the frontbench after crossing the floor on Labor’s hate speech bill, challenging the authority of Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, accepted their resignations, insisting that cabinet solidarity is a non-negotiable principle. The Nationals are threatening to permanently end their coalition with the Liberal party. The legislation, which allows the government to designate organizations as ‘hate groups’ and introduces tougher penalties for religious and spiritual leaders who promote violence, passed the Senate.