Coalition accused of ‘internal chaos’ as it backs away from plans for alternative hate speech bill

The Prime Minister says the federal opposition is yet to produce any amendments to Labor’s contentious hate speech legislation, claiming “internal chaos” inside the coalition is making it “very hard” to negotiate.

Senior opposition figures have confirmed they will not introduce their own proposed laws when Parliament returns briefly next week, as Leader Sussan Ley appeared to suggest on Thursday.

“Nothing is being introduced or actively done when we return,” one opposition frontbencher tells The Nightly, pointing out that a list of measures was unveiled by the coalition anti-Semitism taskforce on December 18.

In an interview with Sky News on Thursday night, Nationals leader David Littleproud says he was “surprised” to hear Ms Ley’s suggestion of an alternative anti-Semitism package.

“From the conversations I’ve had in the leadership between the National and Liberal Party, there will be no alternate bill, a hate speech bill,” he said.

The fate of Labor’s draft laws on hate speech and firearm controls in response to the Bondi massacre hangs in the balance after the coalition described the omnibus bill as “unsalvageable”, and the Greens said they could not support it in its current form.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Friday seized on the comments from Ms Ley, questioning whether her own leadership of the Liberal party was sustainable.

“I would say this about Sussan Ley: She says the legislation is unsalvageable. I think what is becoming increasingly clear is that it is Ms Ley’s leadership which is unsalvageable,” Senator Wong told reporters in Adelaide.

Speaking in Brisbane, the Prime Minister declined to say whether the government would need to allow extra time to get its legislation passed but accused the opposition of continuing negativity after initially demanding Parliament be immediately recalled.

“This is like trying to grab smoke, trying to get an arrangement with the coalition. How do you do it? They sat back last year and didn’t engage at all on environmental laws,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“I’d say to the Coalition, if you can let me know now what they’re prepared to vote for, I’ll respond to any question that people have, because at the moment, I’m not sure what it is, and I don’t think they know either.”

“The parties of government should be supporting this across the board, and we’ve said that if you have ideas for changes, please put them forward now. The coalition yet to put forward a single proposed change.”