Nationals Staffers Face Job Losses as Coalition Split Intensifies
Personal staff working for Nationals MPs who resigned from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's shadow cabinet last week have begun receiving termination letters, according to sources close to the party. The move comes amid a messy split within the Coalition, with Nationals leader David Littleproud now preparing to fend off a leadership challenge from rebel backbencher Colin Boyce.
Staffing Uncertainty Amid Political Turmoil
Several sources within the Nationals, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service has either written to affected staff or is in the process of doing so. These staff members, employed under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (MOPS) Act, face an eight-week severance process due to changes in staffing allocations following the Coalition breakdown.
The legislation grants the Prime Minister final authority over personal staff numbers for the opposition and crossbench, beyond the standard entitlement of four full-time electorate office staff per MP and senator. This bureaucratic reality has left many Nationals staffers in professional limbo as political negotiations continue.
Leadership Challenge Emerges
The staffing crisis coincides with Colin Boyce's announcement that he will move a spill motion when the Nationals party room meets in Canberra on Monday. Boyce revealed his plans during a live Sky News interview on Wednesday, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile political situation.
David Littleproud defended his decision to leave the Coalition in a statement issued after Boyce's announcement. "As the leader of the Nationals, I have always respected the party room's decisions and directions," Littleproud stated. "That includes the right to voice different opinions. We celebrate that freedom."
Internal Party Dynamics
Nationals leader in the Senate Bridget McKenzie downplayed the prospect of a successful leadership spill, noting that the party room had demonstrated unity just last week. "The Nationals party room met just last week and was united in its opposition to Labor's unfair gun laws and their rushed approach to flawed hate laws legislation," Senator McKenzie told The Canberra Times.
She described Boyce's spill motion as having "come out of the blue" and expressed confidence that the party room's position remained unchanged since last week's events. However, former Nationals leader Michael McCormack warned that appointing new shadow ministers and spokespeople would signal a longer-term split, making reconciliation more difficult.
Resource Allocation Questions
Liberal National Party Queensland MP Michelle Landry, who sits with the Nationals in Parliament, revealed that colleagues had received no correspondence about changes to their staffing allowances. "There are discussions going on about staff and all the rest of it," she said. "But we really haven't received any information."
Landry also noted that some Nationals were immediately removed from committee positions when the Coalition split occurred, describing the action as "a bit rough." Littleproud had previously indicated his intention to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to clarify staffing and resourcing allowances if the split with the Liberals became permanent.
Bureaucratic Responses
When contacted for comment, Littleproud's office referred questions to the Prime Minister's office, which in turn directed inquiries to Special Minister of State Don Farrell. Farrell's office was unable to provide specific answers to questions about the staffing situation.
The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service stated that the matter fell under the Finance Department's jurisdiction, while the Finance office did not respond by the publication deadline. This bureaucratic passing of responsibility has left affected staff with few answers about their professional futures.
The ongoing uncertainty highlights the practical consequences of political decisions, with staffers' careers becoming collateral damage in the broader Coalition conflict. As Monday's party room meeting approaches, both the leadership challenge and staffing questions remain unresolved, creating a tense atmosphere within Nationals ranks.
