Canavan wins race to take over as Nationals leader
A Queensland senator has become the new leader of the Nationals after David Littleproud’s shock resignation this week.
Source: AAP
Queensland senator Matt Canavan has been elected the new leader of the Nationals, after a party room vote on Wednesday.
Canavan triumphed over Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie and former deputy leader Kevin Hogan in a leadership contest triggered by the sudden resignation of David Littleproud.
Victorian MP Darren Chester will be the party’s new deputy.
I think it’s important we’ve got strong leadership in our party and we thank David Littleproud for the amazing job that he’s done,” party whip Michelle Landry said in announcing the result.
“We have a mighty battle coming ahead of us, we have two years to get ourselves up in the polls. We have fights with Labor, One Nation, the teals, so we need strong leadership – we have voted for that today and we are looking forward to getting with the job.”
The Nationals traditionally do not reveal the numbers behind party room votes.
You might like
It is unconventional but not impossible for a party leader to be in the Senate. Chester is expected to lead the Nationals in the lower house.
Wednesday’s leadership contest came after Littleproud fronted the media at short notice on Tuesday, accompanied by his wife Amelia, to declare he was stepping down from the regional party’s top job. He said he was “buggered” and didn’t have the energy to continue, although he will remain in parliament as the member for his safe Queensland seat of Maranoa.
Canavan was the first to declare his intention to run for the leadership.
“I’ve worked hard for the party,” he said on Wednesday on his way into Parliament House.
“I think I have delivered results in the past, particularly when I was minister, I helped deliver the net zero policy.”
Stay informed, daily
McKenzie, who would have become the first woman to lead the Nationals, took to social media on Wednesday to announce her tilt, pledging to work every day to secure Australia’s future.
“Today I am seeking to lead the National Party,” she said.
“We face enormous challenges as a country and the Nationals have a critical role in protecting and growing our nation.”
Fellow Queensland senator Susan McDonald said she’d put her hand up as deputy leader and praised Canavan, saying he was an “incredible team player”.
Consistently poor polling showing Pauline Hanson’s One Nation overtaking the Coalition in voter support has shaken the Nationals, who fear a wipeout at the next federal election.
Seats in regional Queensland and NSW are considered particularly at risk, threatening many of the Nationals’ electorates.
The rural party failed to win back the seat of Calare at the 2025 election. It was held by independent Andrew Gee, who quit the Nationals over their opposition to the Indigenous voice to parliament.
Firebrand Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price also defected to the Liberal Party following the federal election defeat.
That left the Nationals with only four seats in the Senate, below what is typically required to maintain “party status”.
-with AAP
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
