Nationals frontbenchers who crossed floor on hate speech vote say Sussan Ley to decide their fate

The Guardian - World NewsEN 1 min read 100% complete by Tom McIlroy, Krishani Dhanji and Dan Jervis-BardyJanuary 21, 2026 at 02:21 AM

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Nationals frontbenchers Ross Cadell, Bridget McKenzie, and Susan McDonald defied the Coalition's position on Labor's hate speech bill, crossing the floor to vote against it. This action violates shadow cabinet solidarity rules, challenging the authority of opposition leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud. Cadell and McKenzie have stated that Sussan Ley will determine their future roles within the shadow cabinet. While McDonald's stance is less defined, all three face potential repercussions for their breach of party discipline. The incident highlights internal divisions within the Nationals regarding the contentious legislation.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Australia 50% David Littleproud 60% Coalition 60% Susan McDonald ×270% Labor Party 70% Ross Cadell ×280% Bridget McKenzie ×280% Nationals ×290% Sussan Ley ×290%

Keywords

hate speech bill 90% shadow cabinet 80% sussan ley 70% floor crossing 70% nationals 60% party solidarity 60% bridget mckenzie 50% susan mcdonald 50% ross cadell 50% opposition leader 40%

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Negative

Score: -0.20

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The Guardian - World News

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85%

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hate speech bill shadow cabinet sussan ley floor crossing nationals party solidarity bridget mckenzie susan mcdonald ross cadell opposition leader

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