SYDNEY: Australia’s conservative coalition split on Thursday for the second time in less than a year after the junior partner National Party severed ties with the Liberal Party, citing the Liberals’ decision to back the government’s hate speech laws.
Australia’s parliament this week passed the centre-left Labor government’s new anti-hate laws in the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting last month, with backing from the Liberals. Three National senators voted against the bill, saying it was rushed through parliament and could undermine freedom of speech.
In a show of solidarity, all National members quit the opposition’s shadow cabinet late on Wednesday after three of their senators had earlier resigned for breaching coalition rules by voting against the Liberals’ position.