Coalition to reunite after Ley brokers deal with Littleproud

Sussan Ley has brokered a deal with David Littleproud to bring the Liberals and Nationals back together, with the opposition leader expected to announce the agreement on Sunday. The move would reform the Coalition less than three weeks after a rift over Labor’s hate speech laws split the parties for the second time in eight months.

Ley had given the Nationals until Monday to reunite before she proceeded with a permanent Liberal-only frontbench, and a Liberal source familiar with the negotiations said the parties would agree to reunite immediately before parliament’s resumption. All former Nationals frontbenchers would be suspended from the shadow ministry until March, although Littleproud and the Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, would still attend shadow cabinet and other senior leadership meetings during that period despite not technically holding frontbench positions.

The deal represents a compromise after a week of bargaining.