Overview

• Andrew Hastie resigned from the frontbench to sit on the backbench, saying Sussan Ley’s charter letter sidelined him on immigration by assigning policy work to Paul Scarr.
• Early October Newspoll shows the Coalition at 28% primary support with Labor at 37% and a 57–43 two‑party lead to Labor, while One Nation rises to 11% and Ley’s net approval falls to −20.
• Reports say Peter Dutton told the party review Hastie effectively went “on strike” during the campaign, a leak Hastie’s allies view as a bid to damage him; review co‑chair Nick Minchin said Dutton avoided criticising his shadows.
• Hastie says he sought to give Ley “clear air” and is not planning a leadership challenge, as senior figures James Paterson and Ted O’Brien publicly back Ley’s position for now.
• Ley faces a second recent frontbench loss after removing Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, with Paterson acting in home affairs and Coalition unity under scrutiny as parliament and Senate estimates resume.