FEDERAL Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has made his position clear about the recent Nationals’ resignations from the Coalition frontbench.
Mr Birrell said he had formally advised the Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley of his decision to resign as Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Education and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health.
“My position was untenable in the circumstances. The Nationals’ Party Room had reached a principled position on the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws Bill 2026),” he said.
“The Nationals abstained from voting against the legislation in the House of Representatives until we could move amendments in the Senate to address our concerns. When those amendments were defeated my Senate colleagues acted in accordance with the decision of the Nationals party room and voted against the bill.
“While I, and my National Party colleagues fully supported the intent of the legislation, the process was shambolic, rushed and ultimately unsatisfactory. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shoulders the blame for the management of this important legislation in the wake of the terrorist attack at Bondi.
“The Bill continued to change, and the Nationals could not come to an agreement in full with our Liberal Party colleagues.”
Mr Birrell said the Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud had advised the Opposition leader in writing that should the offer of resignations from the three shadow cabinet ministers who voted against the Bill in the Senate be accepted, the entire National Party ministry would resign to take collective responsibility.
