Mass walkout of shadow cabinet is only latest chapter in Nationals’ chaotic decline

<p>Departure of all eight remaining frontbenchers was not sparked by principled policy differences, but by ego, ideology and arrogance</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jan/21/hate-speech-laws-pass-senate-gun-reforms-anthony-albanese-labor-sussan-ley-coalition-ntwnfb"><strong>Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong>Get our </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl"><strong>breaking news email</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3"><strong>free app</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl"><strong>daily news podcast</strong></a></p></li></ul><p>With so little fanfare that almost nobody noticed, the Nationals senators Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell first defied their colleagues on the floor of parliament nearly six months ago.</p><p>Late one night in September, the pair voted with Pauline Hanson and One Nation on a motion about migration, ignoring the pleas of Coalition colleagues, including Liberal Anne Ruston, not to cross the floor.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/21/mass-walkout-of-shadow-cabinet-is-only-the-latest-chapter-in-the-nationals-chaotic-decline">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →