Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has resigned from the Coalition’s Shadow Ministry, saying he could not support what he describes as rushed legislation with potential impacts on free speech.

Mr Hogan posted the statement on social media late last night, confirming he had stepped down from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s Shadow Ministry alongside other National Party colleagues, following the resignation of three Nationals senators earlier in the day.

“Today as a matter of principle I have resigned from Sussan Ley’s Shadow Ministry,” Mr Hogan wrote. “My Senate team of Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Ross Cadell were forced to resign for taking a principled party room position. My National Shadow Ministry colleagues have resigned as well.”

The resignations come amid a widening rift within the Coalition after Nationals senators voted against Labor’s post-Bondi attack legislation targeting hate groups and extremist preachers, triggering a breakdown in the long-standing Liberal–National partnership at a federal level.

During an interview on local ABC North Coast this morning, Mr Hogan said the Nationals supported outlawing violent extremist organisations, but had serious concerns about how parts of the legislation were drafted.

“We certainly want these really bad groups like the neo-Nazis and Hizb ut-Tahrir to be outlawed, and we supported legislation that would do that,” he said. “But when you get into this type of legal speak, you start getting into territory around what people can or can’t say, and that’s where our concerns were.”

Mr Hogan said Nationals MPs and senators had worked to improve the legislation, proposing amendments they believed would tighten the laws and confine them clearly to inciting or encouraging violence.

“We were happy that no one can ever incite or encourage violence… that’s easy to legislate against,” he said. “But the bill started to include terms like ‘psychological harm’. When you get into that type of language, it’s the judiciary that interprets it, and we thought there were grey areas where free speech for normal Australians could be impinged.”

He said those concerns ultimately led the party to oppose the bill when amendments failed to pass.

In his public statement, Mr Hogan said the decision came at a personal cost but reflected what he believes voters expect from their representatives.

“I am a proud National,” he said. “The rushed legislation could have untold impacts on free speech and this is not in the best interest of our country.”

“I will always stand up for our country, even if the personal cost is great. It’s what people have asked me to do and what you deserve from your Nats team.”

For Lismore and the wider Page electorate, Mr Hogan’s stance reinforces his long-held position that principle should come before party politics.

“Principle should triumph over politics every time,” he said.