Federal parliament returns next week, with a crossbench "as big as the Opposition", two potential leadership spills, and several bills up for debate.
Politicians will return from their summer break on Tuesday, after parliament sat last week for a special two-day sitting to pass legislation targeting hate groups and tighetning gun control in response to the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Parliament will look markedly different this time, with the Nationals joining the crossbench following the breakdown of their Coalition partnership with the Liberal Party.
Here's what to expect in parliament's first week back.
'A big shift' in the chamber
On 20 January, the internal Coalition tensions reached a climax when three National MPs crossed the floor to vote against hate speech legislation.
It led to the Nationals splitting from the Liberals for a second time in less than a year.
The breakup has forced a change to the chamber’s seating arrangements, with the number of crossbenchers doubling from 14 to 28 — matching the size of the Liberal Party.
"The crossbench is now as big as the Opposition. We are still working out what that will mean. But it’s a big shift," Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke told the Sydney Morning Herald.
It is the second Coalition split since the May 2025 federal election. Seating arrangements were not altered after the first rupture because parliament did not sit during that period.
An 'acting' shadow cabinet
The Opposition frontbench will also be reshuffled, with Liberal leader Sussan Ley making temporary appointments to portfolios previously held by Nationals MPs.
Earlier this week, Ley warned Nationals leader David Littleproud the appointments would be made permanent if the two parties could not resolve their differences.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash has been assigned the trade portfolio, while health spokesperson Anne Ruston will take on agriculture.
Energy spokesperson Dan Tehan will also assume responsibility for resources, and defence spokesperson Angus Taylor will manage veterans’ affairs.
Deputy Liberal leader and opposition treasury spokesperson Ted O’Brien will take on the assistant treasurer role, while environment spokesperson Angie Bell adds water and emergency management to her remit.
The arrangements will be in place until the start of the second parliamentary sitting week, when Ley said she will "appoint a further six parliamentarians to serve in the Shadow Cabinet and two in the outer Shadow Ministry, on an ongoing basis".
Potential leadership surprises
Littleproud could face a leadership challenge as soon as Monday, with backbencher Colin Boyce planning to move a spill motion at a party room meeting amid internal backlash over the Coalition split.
"The National Party is committing political suicide by removing itself from the Coalition," Boyce told Sky News.
"The reality is, [if] they follow the course they're on now, we are going over the political cliff."
However, deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said Littleproud has the party room's "complete support".
While no spill has been called, Ley is also contending with leadership rumblings, with conservatives Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor touted as potential successors.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Hastie had ruled himself out, while Taylor has told colleagues a spill should not happen next week due to a likely interest rate rise.
Ley still maintains support from senior Liberals, including finance spokesperson James Paterson, who said he would quit the frontbench if she were deposed.
"I can't predict what all of my colleagues may or may not do, but I can say that in my assessment, Sussan continues to enjoy the support of the majority of the party room," he told ABC radio on Thursday.
Bills ready for debate
Alongside leadership tensions, MPs will return to Canberra to resume legislative business.
On Wednesday, parliament will debate the Migration Amendment Bill, which aims to provide for the publication of a register of approved standard business sponsors and accredited sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry to Australia.
Other legislation to be debated includes a pause on automatic tax increases for draught beer.
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