Overview

• Andrew Hastie said he resigned after being told the home affairs post would not lead the Coalition’s immigration policy or strategy, and he moved to the backbench to speak freely.
• Sussan Ley countered that Hastie quit because he said he could not comply with shadow ministerial solidarity set out in newly issued charter letters and that he did not raise policy in their call.
• Ley appointed Finance spokesman James Paterson as acting opposition home affairs spokesman as formal changes are worked through and policy reviews continue.
• Hastie has recently agitated for major migration cuts and warned he would leave the frontbench if the Coalition kept a 2050 net‑zero target, underscoring a broader factional split.
• Nationals leader David Littleproud described the move as principled but disappointing, and Liberal senator Jane Hume called it a blow while maintaining support for Ley’s leadership.