Andrew Hastie, the outgoing shadow cabinet home affairs minister, just this morning declared his immediate resignation. He is now leaving the shadow ministry under the leadership of Sussan Ley. On Friday, he formally tendered his resignation. He pointed to a deep division within the party on immigration policy as the key reason behind his decision to bail. Hastie’s resignation is a highly unusual move, coming just one day before he is due to appear alongside Donohoe at Kings Park, Perth.
Hastie wrote directly to Sussan Ley – at the time, the Minister responsible for the file – to express his concerns. He thinks the GOP’s present approach to immigration is out of step with what he believes the party should be. The leadership challenge and internal conflict has led to a remarkable shakeup within the shadow cabinet. Hastie, a prominent member of Ley’s campaign team and former shadow home affairs minister, resigned last week.
Hastie’s departure comes at an interesting time. He will go back to speak to his supporters and constituents in Perth immediately after resigning. He promises to reflect on his experiences in the shadow cabinet in his speech at Kings Park. He will sketch his vision for the party, and arguably more importantly, for Australia itself in overcoming the challenges ahead.
Sussan Ley, who leads the shadow ministry, will need to navigate the implications of Hastie’s resignation as the party seeks a unified front on critical issues such as immigration. Given these implications, especially together, this development is fascinating to consider.
However, none of this diminishes the fact that Hastie’s departure marks a historic moment in Australian politics. Immigration remains one of the most contentious issues in the broader political landscape. His position is indicative of a growing chasm in the GOP. They may differ on the approach to take on their immigration reform and how this should affect the future of Australia.
