New Liberal leader Sussan Ley likely to delay shadow cabinet announcement amid Coalition talks

New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has delayed the unveiling of her Shadow Cabinet following the start-stop split of the Coalition, with the announcement now unlikely before next week.

After Nationals’ leader David Littleproud dropped a break-up bombshell on Tuesday before returning to the negotiating table 48 hours later, the Liberals will meet to consider their four key policy demands.

Ms Ley’s all-Liberal ministry had been just “hours away” from being announced when the pair initiated peace talks on Thursday, a move party sources say will delay her frontbench decision.

She had texted Mr Littleproud as he was sorting his own “shadow” portfolios offering an olive branch “to re-enter good faith negotiations” after hearing him commit to Shadow Cabinet solidarity while on breakfast TV.

Ms Ley claimed it was the first time Mr Littleproud had publicly started to toe the party line after stating that breaching Shadow Cabinet solidarity was a requirement.

Mr Littleproud did admit on Thursday it was mentioned but insisted it wasn’t a reason for the breaking point.

Once they met Ms Ley made her own concession to reconvene her party room late on Thursday evening to consider the four key policies.

Mr Littleproud’s demands which led to the party’s withdrawal of the 38-year partnership, included nuclear energy, supermarket divestiture laws, $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund and rural telecommunications obligations.

If the parties resolve issues and reunify, Nationals could regain key roles and pay, while some Liberals may lose out on potential new portfolios.

Under the previous plan, Canning MP Andrew Hastie was not expected to receive a defence-related portfolio, which is the former SAS soldier’s only experience in ministerial and shadow cabinet roles.

After serving as defence assistant minister between 2020-2022 under Scott Morrison’s Government, he became shadow defence minister under former Opposition leader Peter Dutton.

It’s understood he had been seeking to take on a new portfolio to broaden his experience.

Political analyst Professor Martin Drum said Mr Hastie would likely be seeking to broaden away from getting “pigeonholed” in defence roles.

He noted Mr Hastie would be wise to compete for a sought after economic portfolio if he has leadership ambitions in the future.

“He has said openly that he would aspire to leadership in the future. In order to do that, he’s got to demonstrate he’s got experience across the board,” Professor Drum said.

“So he can, and should seek a portfolio change. Usually, some economic experience is very well regarded and plays well.

“That might be competitive, but he certainly should be looking for another substantive portfolio.”

“Could be education, could be health. It could be something along those lines, which gives you a profile and an opportunity to really demonstrate his credentials.

“The other thing about Andrew Hastie is his professional background is defence too. So that could compound the issue.”

While Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is tipped to lose her DOGE-like “government effectiveness” portfolio in favour of a more “optimistic and more positive”.

Depending on the outcome of Friday’s 1pm Liberal Party policy meeting, Ms Ley will brief colleagues on “what the path forward is” and meet with the Nationals to discuss the Coalition agreement before finalising the Shadow Cabinet.

During the two-day break, Ms Ley had been conducting her own outreach, including calls to former leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce, as well as Darren Chester, all of whom had voiced opposition to a split,

Mr Littleproud’s judgement has been questioned with Mr McCormack describing his leadership as “messy” and casting doubt over his long-term support within the party.

Mr McCormack said he was “I’m ambitious for him” when asked whether he fully supported the leader going forward.

Former Liberal PM Malcolm Turnbull slammed the Nationals as “stupid” for “holding a gun to the Liberal Party’s head,” warning their demands risk damaging the Coalition’s future.