David Littleproud emerges victorious as Nationals leader following Barnaby Joyce’s defeat

After an intense showdown at the Nationals party room vote in Canberra on Monday, May 30, David Littleproud has come out triumphant as the newly elected leader for the Nationals party.

The two-hour-long leadership spill saw Littleproud oust former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and defeat former minister Darren Chester in a three-way contest following the crushing defeat of the Coalition during this year’s federal election.

Speaking to the ABC, Littleproud said he had always dreamed of leading the party since he was a 6-year-old boy.

I effectively became a member of @The_Nationals 40 years ago as a 6 year old boy handing out for my father in Chinchilla in a state election.

To be elected Leader is one of the proudest moments of my life.

I’m looking forward to working alongside @PerinDavey & @senbmckenzie. pic.twitter.com/TeKaRkh8XG

— David Littleproud MP (@D_LittleproudMP) May 30, 2022

“I believe passionately in the National Party … we are the conscience of rural and regional Australia right here in this parliament,” he said.

“The National Party today starts its journey towards 2025, with a vibrant team, ready to articulate the policies that are important to regional and rural Australia, but also to draw on the experience of two former deputy prime ministers in Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, to build that bridge of unity and purpose, to make sure that regional and rural Australia isn’t forgotten.”

Ahead of the party room meeting, Joyce was confident about keeping his position as Nationals leader, despite facing criticism from fell0w party members.

A number of the Nationals were reportedly upset with Joyce’s signal that the Nationals may drop their support for net zero emission after the Coalition’s elections defeat.

Littleproud says his win as the Nationals leaders wasn’t about “lurching” left” or swaying right but looking for the “sensible centre” as he continues to uphold the party’s net zero

“We have made a sensible decision to be part of the global community; the global community asked us to sign up to net zero by 2050,” he said.

The Nationals aren’t the only party to see a change of leadership after Peter Dutton was elected as the new Liberal Party Leader with Susan Ley elected as deputy.

The change of leadership follows Scott Morrison’s resignation following the party’s election loss.

In Dutton’s first press conference as Liberal leader, he pledged that “by the time of the next election in 2025 we will have presented a plan to the Australian people which will clean up Labor’s inevitable mess and lay out our own vision.”

“Our strength to the Australian people is the best party to keep our country safe and our economy strong so we can afford to pay for our essential services,” he said