Nationals Senator Ross Cadell said the coalition is back in the game following Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's 2026 budget reply speech.

The statement marks a pivot for the coalition, which Cadell suggests had been dormant for nearly a year. By delivering a formal response to the budget, Taylor provides the opposition with a platform to re-engage with voters and challenge the current government's fiscal priorities.

Cadell said the speech ended a significant lull in the coalition's political activity. He noted that the party needed to regain its footing after nine months [1] of nothing, and said that Taylor's address provided that opportunity.

"We’re back in with a shot, and I’m just breathing a sigh of relief," Cadell said. "It’s good to be back in the game."

The budget reply serves as the primary mechanism for the opposition to critique government spending and propose alternative economic strategies. For the coalition, the timing is critical as they seek to define their identity, and policy goals for the remainder of the legislative cycle.

Cadell said that the coalition needed to return to the political arena after the nine-month [1] gap. He said that Taylor has now given the party the necessary opening to compete again.

“"We needed to get back in this game after nine months of nothing, he’s given us that."”

The admission of a nine-month period of inactivity suggests the coalition struggled with internal cohesion or strategic direction following previous sessions. By framing the budget reply as a 'return to the game,' the party is attempting to signal a renewed aggression and readiness to act as a viable alternative government.