STATEMENT | This morning, I spoke with the Leader of the Opposition to offer my resignation from the Shadow Cabinet, effective immediately.

The Leader has made it clear that the Shadow Home Affairs Minister won’t lead the Coalition’s response to immigration matters or develop the Coalition’s immigration strategy. On this basis, I made the decision that I was not able to continue in this role and remain silent on immigration.

It is a well-established standard in the Westminster system that, if a member of the Shadow Cabinet is unwilling to live by the convention of solidarity, they must depart to the backbench.

Therefore, out of respect for Sussan’s leadership, I am resigning from the frontbench.

Sussan deserves the opportunity to lead, unencumbered by interventions from Shadow Cabinet colleagues, especially as the Coalition builds out a policy platform for the 2028 election.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as the Shadow Home Affairs Minister, and I wish Sussan and the Shadow Cabinet every success in this term.

Andrew Haste MP, Federal Member for Canning