Coalition reunion expected soon following messy split over hate laws

The Liberals and Nationals could be one step closer to reuniting the Coalition, after a messy split over the federal government's hate speech laws.

Speculation is rife that an 11th-hour deal was reached during talks yesterday between Sussan Ley and David Littleproud about the future of three Nationals senators who crossed the floor over the hate bill.

An announcement regarding the Coalition is expected later today.

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Littleproud told Today he has made it "very clear" he was open to reunification – but only if Ley dropped her demand of a six-month suspension from the shadow cabinet for the Nationals senators who split from the Liberals.

"The reality is, we made it very clear from the start that if our shadow ministers that crossed the floor were reinstated then the Coalition could come back together," the Nationals leader said.

"We've been very consistent all the way through."

While he refused to speculate on what Sunday's announcement may be, Littleproud said he hoped there would still be a Coalition.

"I hope that, in the near future, that there is a Coalition," he added.

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"Because that's the only way to bring Anthony Albanese down."

The threat of Pauline Hanson's One Nation has been looming large over the past week amid the bitter Coalition division.

However, Littleproud said Hanson is not "serious" about becoming a genuine electoral opponent.

"She seems to be only coming after National and Liberal Party seats," he said.

"If the enemy is Anthony Albanese, as she articulates, she's not really serious, is she?"

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Nine's political editor Charles Croucher confirmed the Nationals and Liberals are back together and just need to "iron out" details over reinstating the Nationals senators.

"The Nationals and Liberals, on the sidelines now, are back together to reshuffle around the parliament," Croucher said.

"Getting back together is a start, but it's a long way back to any form of opposition for the Liberal and National parties."

The entire Nationals frontbench, including Littleproud, quit in protest after three senators were dumped from the shadow ministry for voting against the government's hate speech laws, despite the shadow cabinet agreeing to back the legislation. 

Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald broke ranks to vote against the hate speech bill in the Senate.

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