Overview

• The Liberal and National parties officially reunited on May 28 when leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud announced a joint shadow cabinet after resolving a brief post-election split.
• The coalition agreed in principle to four Nationals policy demands—lifting the nuclear ban, a A$20 billion regional development fund, supermarket divestiture powers and regional telecommunications guarantees—to cement the reunion.
• Key appointments include Ted O’Brien as shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor shifted to shadow defence, Dan Tehan as shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, Michaelia Cash as shadow foreign affairs and James Paterson as shadow finance.
• Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack and senator Matt Canavan were omitted from the frontbench, while Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was demoted and Jane Hume dropped entirely.
• Opposition leadership has left the coalition’s net-zero emissions target under review amid ongoing disputes over climate policy and energy strategy.