Overview

• Andrew Hastie resigned as shadow home affairs minister, saying Sussan Ley made clear he would not lead the Coalition’s immigration strategy.
• Ley says recently issued charter letters set expectations and required shadow‑cabinet solidarity, and she says Hastie did not raise policy concerns in his resignation call.
• Finance spokesman James Paterson has been appointed to act in the home affairs role as the opposition continues work on its platform.
• Sources who have seen Ley’s letter say immigration spokesman Paul Scarr was designated to lead policy development, a point Hastie and allies saw as undercutting his senior role.
• Hastie denies an immediate leadership challenge and plans to speak freely from the backbench, with colleagues both praising his integrity and warning the move deepens internal rifts ahead of a likely reshuffle and Senate estimates scrutiny this week.