Hastie resigns from Liberal frontbench over immigration policy

Andrew Hastie resigned from the Liberal Party frontbench on Friday, stepping down as shadow minister for home affairs after telling Opposition Leader Sussan Ley he could not abide by the party's expectations of collective solidarity on immigration policy. Hastie said he had offered his resignation because he was unwilling to remain silent on immigration if he was not permitted to lead the Coalition's response and shape its policy.

In a statement, Hastie said, "The leader has made it clear that the shadow home affairs minister wont lead the Coalition's response to immigration matters or develop the Coalition's immigration policy. On this basis, I made the decision that I was not able to continue in this role and remain silent on immigration. Therefore, out of respect for Sussan's leadership, I am resigning from the frontbench." He added that Ley "deserves the opportunity to lead, unencumbered by interventions from Shadow Cabinet colleagues, especially as the Coalition builds out a policy platform for the 2028 election."

Ley's office issued its own account after Hastie phoned her from Perth. Ley said she had recently issued letters to her frontbench setting out expectations that...