Coalition split hurts Ley, but fault is all Littleproud's |
Even before this crisis, it was generally accepted Ley’s days as Opposition Leader were numbered. But it’s David Littleproud whose leadership should be on the line, according to Michelle Grattan.
Sussan Ley may pay the price for the implosion of the Coalition, but the blame rests squarely with Nationals leader David Littleproud. He’s the one whose leadership should be on the line.
When you stand back from it, the behaviour of the Nationals has been extraordinary and, many would argue, reprehensible.
What was the issue on which the Nationals chose to make their stand? It was the provision in the government’s legislation that will enable the banning of hate-spruiking groups, notably the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, and neo-Nazi groups.
The Nationals said this was too broad, and endangered free speech. However important the principle of free speech is, dealing with these purveyors of hate outweighs it in this instance. Also, the measure as passed is surrounded by reasonable guardrails.
The Nationals’ claims they want radical Islamists dealt with are hollow when they oppose this measure – which is also attacked, it should be noted, by some on the progressive side of politics, in the name of free speech. The antisemitism issue has produced a convergence of sections of the right and the left, aligned against the pragmatic centre.
In the run-up to the Coalition crisis, a Sunday night meeting of shadow cabinet, which included Littleproud, decided to seek changes to the hate crime legislation; on Monday the opposition obtained concessions from the government.
Ley said that was the proper end of the process, clearing the........