3 Nationals shadow ministers quit Australian opposition front bench

CANBERRA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Three Nationals senators quit the opposition coalition's shadow cabinet on Wednesday after a split with the Liberal Party over the newly passed hate crime laws.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Wednesday accepted the resignations of Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald.

The trio voted against Labor's hate crimes bill late Tuesday night despite an agreement reached between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and their coalition leader after changes had been made to the bill.

Under the coalition convention, the shadow cabinet's solidarity is made clear, meaning that members who vote against an agreed position should step down. ■