O’Brien described the recent events as a “challenging week” for the Liberal Party during an interview with the ABC.

“This isn’t easy for our supporters,” he remarked. “Ultimately, a Liberal-National Coalition serves the country best.”

He expressed his dismay by stating, “I’m very disappointed with the National Party’s decision to break away from the Liberal Party.”

“I don’t foresee any changes forthcoming,” he added.

O’Brien continued, “Sussan Ley has shown tremendous dignity and strength recently, which my colleagues have acknowledged. Therefore, I don’t anticipate any leadership challenges.”

Senior Liberal figures and conservatives Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor have been rumoured to be vying for the top role.

Ley is currently working to fill the 11 frontbench vacancies after the entire Nationals frontbench, including Littleproud, resigned on Thursday in protest of three senators having their resignations accepted by the opposition leader.

The trio – Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald – voted against the federal government’s hate speech bill, despite being required to vote in line with the position taken by the shadow cabinet.

Littleproud has pointed the finger back at Ley, claiming the senators’ votes did not breach shadow cabinet solidarity and it was Ley who made the Coalition untenable by accepting their resignations. 

“The National Party is our own sovereign party. Sussan Ley cannot force us to vote one way or another. And when we have not breached any process, any procedure in the Coalition,” he said on Thursday.

Littleproud has, however, said it was time for the Nationals to “move on” and for the Liberals to “work out who they are”.