As Parliament resumes this week, the Coalition is once again fighting itself instead of the government.
The latest turmoil centres on Andrew Hastie MP, who quit the frontbench last week over a migration policy rift—a move now compounded by a damaging leak accusing him of failing to deliver key defence policy work before the May 3 election.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, a confidential election review submission claimed Hastie, who was shadow defence minister at the time, neglected to complete a review of Defence Department spending, leaving the Coalition’s policy thin on detail during the election campaign.
Former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton allegedly said Hastie “went on strike” and refused to “joust with Labor in the media,” weakening the opposition’s attacks on national security.
The leak has intensified scrutiny on Ley’s leadership, which already hangs on a thin margin.
Leak Untrustworthy: Ministers Say
Newly appointed Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson, who has replaced Hastie, dismissed the leaks as incomplete and misleading.
“I haven’t seen that submission, and it hasn’t been publicly released,” he told ABC Radio.
“It’s into a report which hasn’t yet been completed, and judging by the article this morning, I’m not sure the reporter themselves has even read the submission.”
Paterson defended his colleague’s record, calling Hastie “a key voice in our national security and defence team, which was one of the strongest areas that we put forward during the last term.”
He also rejected claims that Hastie contributed to the Coalition’s election defeat.
“We have to accept collective responsibility … and Peter Dutton has taken public responsibility for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nationals leader David Littleproud backed Hastie’s decision, describing it as an act of principle rather than ambition.
“I think he’s made this decision predicated on what he can and cannot accept,” Littleproud said.
“I think Andrew is somebody that has that integrity that I would take at face value… not to challenge the leadership, but because of the difference of opinion. And I think that takes courage in politics.”
He praised Hastie’s record of service and dismissed reports that Dutton had blamed him for the Coalition’s defeat.
“I take it with a grain of salt,” he said. “Something leaked sounds titillating, but whether it has the veracity of the real truth is something that I’d question.”
