The former heads of the Liberal and National parties have voiced sharp criticism of the Coalition leadership following a wave of resignations that has left the shadow cabinet in disarray.

In a dramatic protest, eight Nationals frontbenchers have stepped down from their positions in the shadow cabinet. This move follows the earlier resignation of three colleagues, stemming from a divide over newly proposed anti-hate legislation.

Malcolm Turnbull, the ex-prime minister and former leader of the Liberal Party, highlighted the importance of the Nationals’ support, noting that the Liberals need their backing to secure regional seats and effectively form a government.

However, Turnbull expressed concern that the current state of the Coalition makes them “even more unelectable than before.”

Speaking on ABC Radio Thursday morning, he remarked, “When they look at the situation, it appears to be nothing short of a smouldering wreckage, doesn’t it?”

His criticism of the Coalition follows a public falling out between Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud, the latter confirming this morning the two parties had split.

“This was a rushed process,” Littleproud told reporters on Thursday morning.

When asked by reporters if this meant his party was splitting from the Coalition, Littleproud confirmed this was the case.

“Yes. There’s no other position … our party room has made it clear that we cannot be part of a shadow ministry under Sussan Ley,” he said.

“We sit by ourselves.”

Ley released a statement on Thursday morning, saying: “this is a National Day of Mourning and my responsibility as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party is to Australians in mourning.”

“Today the focus must be on Jewish Australians, indeed all Australians, as we mourn the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack.”

‘Utterly chaotic’, Joyce says

Former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has criticised the split between the Liberals and his former party.

He previously led the party on two occasions and announced earlier this year he would not recontest his seat in New England in 2028, before joining One Nation in November.

He took aim at Littleproud, accusing the Nationals of having “three positions in one night” over the legislation.

“This process by Mr Littleproud is totally and utterly chaotic,” Joyce said on Thursday.

“They didn’t get through the House of Reps, they were never going to get through the Senate.”

He speculated the dysfunction in the Coalition could bolster support for One Nation.

“I think we’ll get stronger,” he said.

The blanket resignations heap even more pressure on Ley, who has been trying to keep the Coalition together since their temporary split after the 2025 federal election.

That week-long split came after the Nationals made a number of policy demands of the Coalition, including a commitment to nuclear power.

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