“I’ve previously stated that I would welcome the opportunity to serve my party and our country as leader of the Liberal Party,” he said in a statement. It comes as Ms Ley gave the Nationals a week to reconcile with the coalition before she crosses the Rubicon by replacing their leadership team. Ms Ley said she would then appoint six parliamentarians to the shadow cabinet and two in the outer shadow ministry “on an ongoing basis”. Deputy Liberal leader and shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien has taken on the assistant treasurer portfolio, while environment spokeswoman Angie Bell adds water and emergency management. The Liberal leader has reached out for talks to reconcile the coalition.