Australia's opposition coalition reunites after dispute over hate-speech laws

Australia's Liberal-National Coalition reunited after splitting over proposed hate-speech reforms, with leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud announcing an agreement that joint shadow cabinet decisions will stand.

Australia's Liberal-National Coalition reunited on Sunday, more than two weeks after the centre-right partners split over proposed hate-speech reforms. The split followed a vote on legislation introduced after the Bondi Beach attack in December, and both party leaders spoke together in Canberra about moving forward. The parties said they had reached an internal agreement on shared decision-making. The return comes after a series of recent tensions and an earlier brief separation last year. What we know: - The Coalition separated on 22 January after the Nationals said they could not back the government's hate-speech reforms and raised free-speech concerns. - Liberal leader Sussan Ley and National leader David Littleproud appeared together and said the Coalition was reunited and looking ahead. - The Liberals backed the government's measures while the Nationals abstained in the lower house and voted against the bill in the senate. - The legislation discussed includes provisions to ban groups judged to spread hate and to impose tougher penalties for preachers who advocate violence. - The parties agreed that decisions made by their joint shadow cabinet will not be overturned unilaterally by either party. Summary: The reunification restores the formal opposition partnership and sets the joint shadow cabinet as the focal point for coalition decisions. How this arrangement will affect the parties' standing with voters and their response to the government's hate-speech reforms is undetermined at this time.