Staying with Paterson, he said his party would need to fill the shadow frontbench positions left vacant after the party split with the Nationals before parliament returns next week, but that he wanted to work towards reuniting the Coalition.
“I note that David Littleproud has not yet appointed any spokesmen for those areas as well,” Paterson told ABC Radio National.
“My view is we should continue to talk with the National Party and see whether reformation of a Coalition can occur, but if it is to occur, it would have to take place on an agreed and shared understanding of the important principles of the Westminster system, including shadow cabinet solidarity.
“It would be preferable to fight the next election in coalition rather than apart.”
The Coalition split last week was precipitated by three Nationals senators crossing the floor on Labor’s hate speech reforms and breaking shadow cabinet solidarity.
Paterson declined to speculate on how his colleagues were positioning for a potential leadership spill, but said Sussan Ley had his support.
“I wouldn’t be speaking to you this morning as the shadow minister for finance if she didn’t [have my support]. I understand my responsibilities under the Westminster convention … the first responsibility, if you don’t support any leader, is to tell them, and the second responsibility is to resign, and I haven’t done either so you can assume I continue to support Sussan.”
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