Australia's Conservative Coalition Splits After Historic Election Defeat

Australia's conservative Coalition has fractured following a historic electoral defeat, with the National Party officially refusing to re-enter a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party for the first time since 1987. Nationals leader David Littleproud cited irreconcilable policy differences, particularly regarding nuclear power, renewable energy, supermarket chain divestiture, and rural telecommunications, as key reasons for the split. The Liberal Party suffered its worst election result in over 80 years, while the Nationals retained fewer seats, further undermining the traditional urban-rural alliance. Despite the split, Littleproud expressed willingness to work with new Liberal leader Sussan Ley to rebuild relations before the next federal election. The rupture reflects broader dissatisfaction within the Nationals about the Liberals' commitment to zero carbon emissions by 2050 and other rural-focused policies. This political upheaval follows Labor's landslide victory, seen as a rejection of conservative policies aligned with those of former U.S. President Donald Trump.