>>24156844

Ley left hanging after demands to reform Coalition blindside MPs in both parties

Paul Sakkal and Nick Newling - February 3, 2026

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Nationals leader David Littleproud has left Opposition Leader Sussan Ley hanging after she made a final offer to avoid a long-term Coalition split, with both Nationals and Liberal frontbenchers saying they were blindsided by Ley’s requests.

The prospects of a reconciliation between the warring parties are diminishing after the Nationals reacted angrily to Ley’s move on Tuesday.

The three Nationals MPs who resigned from the frontbench – a move that precipitated the parties officially splitting due to a breakdown in shadow cabinet solidarity – learnt about Ley’s wish to suspend them from shadow cabinet for six months via the media after this masthead reported Ley’s compromise plan to reunite the Coalition.

Ley was briefing her own MPs on the offer she had made to Littleproud at the same time as Nationals MPs were in their own party room meeting, but Littleproud had not yet told them of Ley’s offer.

Separately, shadow ministers said they were only told of Ley’s idea after she had communicated with the Nationals, though Ley’s party room backed her plan and the vast majority of Liberals supported suspending the rebel Nationals.

Liberal sources claimed Littleproud ignored repeated requests to meet on Tuesday, as the Nationals leadership mulled a counteroffer on Tuesday evening. If the parties fail to agree on a plan over the next few days, Ley is expected to announce a Liberal-only opposition frontbench, cementing a long-term split.

Ley and Littleproud spoke on Monday night, the Liberal leader saying the warring parties could reunite if the three rebel senators – Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald – spent six months off the frontbench and the regional party affirmed the notion of shadow cabinet discipline.

But one Nationals MP rubbished the talks between the leaders as a “totally bullshit” process designed to create the perception of a good-faith negotiation, when in fact Ley and Littleproud’s working relationship was non-existent.

The reality of the split was on display in parliament on Tuesday as Littleproud moved to the backbench and the Nationals sat separate from the Liberals alongside the crossbench.

Labor ministers mocked the parties from the first moment of question time.

“They make the Beckhams look like a happy family. They are like a couple that bought a non-refundable holiday, then broke up and have to sit there and suffer through it,” Education Minister Jason Clare said.

The Nationals expressed frustration that Ley’s offer leaked out to the media before its own MPs were briefed on it.

“As per media reports, the Nationals have received a written offer from the Liberal Party,” Littleproud said. “We will take our time to consider the details.

“The Nationals are united in our endeavours to reset the Coalition, but we won’t be providing updates on any negotiations through the media.”

(continued)

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Pressure has intensified on Littleproud this week as his own MPs backed a motion to get the Coalition back together, weeks after Liberals blamed him for recklessly allowing his party to vote against Labor’s post-Bondi hate speech laws despite the shadow cabinet agreeing to back them.

But both Littleproud and Ley have boxed themselves in, with Littleproud taking a hard line on a demand to reinstate the three frontbenchers who resigned last month, which Ley and her party room oppose, and also seeking greater flexibility for Nationals to cross the floor.

While announcing the split 12 days ago, Littleproud said the Nationals “cannot be part of a shadow ministry under Sussan Ley”, so any reconciliation would be a major backdown for the Nationals leader.

Many MPs in both parties would like to see the two parties rejoin, even though some moderate Liberals are keen to remain apart so that they can focus on city voters. Queensland backbencher Terry Young argued the split should be long-lasting.

One Liberal MP said after Ley’s briefing that the Nationals were “parasitic” as the regional party “see the relationship with the Liberal Party as a way to enrich themselves” rather than achieve mutual success.

“Many Liberals believe that [the Nationals] are an unworthy coalition partner. Until they adopt a new mindset we are better off without them dragging us down to their level of mediocrity,” said the MP, who spoke off the record to be candid.

“David Littleproud is no longer credible as a leader and a parliamentarian. He should consider his future,” the MP said. “Preferably a vocation that does not require any form of relationship management.”

This masthead reported on Monday that Ley’s allies, battling to stave off a challenge from leadership rival Angus Taylor, were asking MPs to keep Ley in the job until at least the time of the federal budget in May.

Speaking outside a church service to mark the opening of parliament on Tuesday morning, Ley said: “Very confident of delivering a strong budget-in-reply speech in May.”

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/ley-reveals-fresh-offer-to-littleproud-including-benching-rebels-for-6-months-20260203-p5nz1i.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYRglBDC28

>>23996448

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews recovering from medical episode

Dan Andrews is slowly recovering from a debilitating medical episode that shocked family and friends, with sources saying the former premier is “in a very bad way”.

Shannon Deery - February 3, 2026

Former premier Daniel Andrews is slowly recovering from a damaging medical episode that has shocked friends and colleagues.

The Herald Sun has been told Mr Andrews was “in a very bad way” but his condition has been improving with the help of an intensive and ongoing rehabilitation program.

Sources say Mr Andrews experienced a neurological episode that left him debilitated.

Some sources in Spring St even say they have been told he has had issues with his movement and speech, while others are playing down the situation, insisting he is making a steady recovery.

Despite keeping a relatively low public profile since retiring from politics in 2023, Mr Andrews’ failure to publicly acknowledge the passing of former senior adviser Tim Picton last month — by either issuing a statement or attending his funeral — sparked serious concern for his welfare among many senior politicos.

The omission was said to be “uncharacteristic” given his longstanding personal and political relationship with Mr Picton.

The former premier was admitted to hospital late last year, but information about why has been tightly controlled.

Those around Mr Andrews have “locked down information like Michael Schumacher’s family”, according to one senior political source, referring to the secrecy around the Formula 1 legend’s condition after his ski accident.

It is understood Mr Andrews was treated at Monash Hospital shortly before Christmas.

The former premier abruptly resigned from the state’s top job in September 2023 after leading Victoria through the Covid crisis and the world’s longest lockdown.

He was previously hospitalised in 2021, after falling while on holiday on the Mornington Peninsula.

Mr Andrews crushed his back, broke ribs and suffered respiratory failure in the fall, and later said he feared he was “going to die” in the minutes after he slipped on steps at a Sorrento holiday home.

He was taken into intensive care and placed on breathing machines to support collapsed lungs.

He spent four months in intensive rehabilitation following the fall.

Mr Andrews most recently made headlines in September amid a controversial visit to China that sparked sweeping condemnation, including from his former Labor colleagues.

The polarising leader appeared at a military parade in Beijing which was also attended by dictators including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

He later said the visit was a good opportunity to meet with regional leaders.

His most recent hospitalisation came amid a new legal case over the infamous “bike boy” incident.

Mr Andrews and his wife Catherine are being sued by cyclist Ryan Meuleman, with whom they collided in an incident at Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula in 2013.

Ongoing speculation over the circumstances leading to the crash, which left the then 15-year-old Meuleman seriously injured, has sparked several legal fights and investigations.

In the latest, Mr Meuleman has launched defamation action against Mr Andrews and his wife in the Federal Court.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/former-victorian-premier-daniel-andrews-recovering-from-medical-episode/news-story/022e185a00297517a71d0713d8569934

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVY2rojzwF8

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>>23996417

>>24080627

>>24147577

NSW Police commissioner extends protest restrictions ahead of Israel president visit

Chantelle Al-Khouri - 3 February 2026

The NSW Police commissioner has announced restrictions on protests will be extended, ahead of planned demonstrations against the upcoming Sydney visit of Israel's president.

The Albanese government invited President Isaac Herzog to Australia after the Bondi Beach terror attack on a Hanukkah festival on December 14, which left 15 victims dead.

Nationwide protests have been planned against the visit.

The laws enabling police to refuse authorisation for all protests in the wake of a terror attack were rushed through state parliament in December.

"We are still less than two months from what is the worst terrorist incident in New South Wales's history," NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

"Today I have considered that there remains a significant risk to community safety by public assemblies and I have extended that declaration for a further 14 days."

The 14 days could be changed if the order was rescinded or revoked, which could happen at any time.

For the next 14 days, public assemblies will only be restricted in the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command and in parts of Sydney's CBD, excluding Hyde Park.

The declaration can be extended in two-week increments for up to three months.

Commissioner Lanyon also said police were investigating 10 acts of antisemitic incidents from the past two weeks, and that Jewish people have been subjected to threatening phone calls.

Israel president's visit

Mr Herzog is expected to land in Sydney on February 8 for a four-day visit.

Commissioner Lanyon said there was "significant animosity" surrounding the visit.

"Obviously, what I fear is a large-scale public assembly with so much animosity could present a risk to community safety," he said.

"We want to ensure that free speech is enshrined but we need to make sure that is balanced by community safety."

He said "3,000 police shifts" would be deployed as part of the protection provided to Mr Herzog during his visit.

A coalition of pro-Palestinian and First Nations groups have launched a challenge against the Minns government in court, arguing the protest laws are unconstitutional and violate the right to freedom of political communication.

The state government has argued the laws were necessary to ensure calm in the wake of the Bondi attack.

Conflicting views of Herzog's visit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week defended his invitation to the president after Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly declined to endorse the visit.

"I certainly welcome him coming and I look forward to visiting," Mr Albanese said.

"I note that Anne Aly has made appropriate comments as well, welcoming the fact, welcoming anything that leads to a greater sense of unity. We need to build social cohesion in this country."

Last year, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and found that Mr Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then Defence Minister Yoav Gallant incited the commission of genocide.

The president's comments are included in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, which is before the International Court of Justice.

The allegation of genocide is rejected by Israel and Mr Herzog denied the allegations and maintained his comments were taken out of context.

Josh Lees from Palestine Action Group Sydney said a planned protest would still go ahead despite restrictions being extended, as it was still a legal right to gather for public assembly.

"They invite someone accused of war crimes and then accuse us of being the ones breaching social cohesion when we're the ones just trying to uphold the basic tenets of morality and humanity and international law," Mr Lees said.

Mr Lees said the restrictions were "trying to silence opposition" to Mr Herzog's visit.

Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Australia's peak body for Jewish organisations, last month said the visit would "lift the spirits" of survivors and families of those killed in the Bondi attack.

"Australia and Israel have been historic allies, and as Jewish Australians we want to see a strong relationship between the two countries," he said.

"Sometimes it takes a catastrophe, a tragedy, to bring a sense of perspective and clarity and bring two feuding partners together."

While the restrictions do not ban protests outright, it removes additional legal protections for groups marching through the streets.

The restricted area was reduced last month to accommodate the planned Invasion Day march on January 26.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-03/nsw-police-protest-laws-israel-president-isaac-herzog-sydney/106298050

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_dtb0mTvvM

>>24006135

Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull: Neo-Nazis accused of Ku Klux Klan, black face Halloween act

Liam Beatty - February 3, 2026

Two Melbourne neo-Nazis have been accused of engaging in grossly offensive conduct after an alleged Halloween incident, a court has been told.

Jacob Hersant, 26, and Nathan Bull, 24, were charged by police in October last year after they were allegedly captured on video walking around Melbourne abusing people on October 31, 2024.

It’s alleged Mr Hersant was dressed as a Ku Klux Klan Klansman while Mr Bull was in blackface with a noose around his neck.

The pair have been charged with engaging in grossly offensive public conduct and conduct likely to incite serious contempt. Neither has been required to enter pleas to the charges.

Mr Hersant is a former Victorian leader of neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network, which claims to have disbanded due to new hate group laws, while Mr Bull was a high-profile member of the group.

They were due to return before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, however, only Mr Hersant attended, leading magistrate Carolyn Burnside to issue a warrant for Mr Bull’s arrest.

Representing himself, Mr Hersant requested an adjournment to speak with a lawyer he’d recently engaged.

He told the court he intended to plead not guilty to the charges.

Ms Burnside was told police had prepared a 570-page brief of evidence in the matter which, due to a quirk of the law around the charges, had to be signed off by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

She said the allegations were “so serious” and, if made out, represented “blatant racism”.

“I’d wipe the smile off your face, Mr Hersant,” she said.

Mr Hersant told the court he believes he will “most likely” be sentenced to a month in jail in an unrelated case on Wednesday afternoon.

The case centred on a Nazi salute he performed in front of TV cameras outside the County Court of Victoria in October 2023, just days after the act was criminalised.

He was found guilty of performing the banned gesture and sentenced to a month behind bars the following year.

But Mr Hersant appealed the verdict, arguing it was not a Nazi salute and challenging the constitutional validity of laws criminalising the act in the County Court.

His appeal was rejected by Judge Simon Moglia in December last year, again finding Mr Hersant guilty of the charge.

“In all the circumstances as I’ve set out, I’m satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Mr Hersant intentionally performed a Nazi salute,” he said.

Mr Hersant is expected to be resentenced by Judge Moglia on Wednesday afternoon but has flagged he intends to appeal again to the High Court.

The case against Mr Hersant and Mr Bull was adjourned until March 13.

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/jacob-hersant-nathan-bull-neonazis-accused-of-ku-klux-klan-black-face-halloween-act/news-story/57145eed038b26af548950afb8ed0327

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5wElb99n4