Three Nationals senators who refused to join the Liberals in voting for the federal government's new hate speech laws have quit the shadow cabinet.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley confirmed in a statement today she had accepted the resignations of senators Susan McDonald, Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell.
"Yesterday, in several conversations, I made it clear to David Littleproud that members of the shadow cabinet could not vote against the shadow cabinet position," Ley said.
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"The shadow cabinet was unanimous in its endorsement to support this bill subject to several amendments that we did then secure.
"This has been acknowledged by Nationals' senators this morning."
Ley said McDonald, McKenzie and Cadell have been asked to continue to serve the Coalition but from outside of the shadow cabinet.
She said Nationals leader David Littleproud has been asked to put forward three replacement ministers.
The new hate speech and gun laws were passed last night after a long night of voting in the Senate.
The hate laws will create powers for authorities to designate certain organisations as "hate groups", allowing members and donors alike to face possible jail time.
It will create new aggravated offences for religious or spiritual leaders who advocate violence, as well as penalise religious leaders who preach hate to children.
The new framework will also give ministers more powers to cancel or refuse visas to those who spread hate or extremist views.
The new gun laws, which were voted against by the Coalition, One Nation and United Australia Party senators but supported by the Greens, will limit the imports of guns to Australian citizens.
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