# Coalition split over Bragg speech as McLachlan urges colleagues to follow his lead

https://mins.news/en/item/22700

- The Guardian, 2026-08-15 02:00 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/15/coalition-split-on-andrew-bragg-speech-as-south-australian-senator-andrew-mclachlan-urges-colleagues-to-follow-his-lead

> Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan has backed Andrew Bragg after his speech proposing a major cut to the national construction code and reducing net overseas migration from about 300,000 to below 180,000 a year. Senior Coalition figures dismissed the migration target as Bragg’s personal view, while moderates called the backlash an overreaction.