2020 National Party of Australia
leadership spill
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Leadership election
 
Candidate Michael McCormack Barnaby Joyce
Caucus vote ≥11[a] <11[a]
Seat Riverina (NSW) New England (NSW)
Leader before election

Michael McCormack

 Elected Leader

Michael McCormack

Deputy leadership election
 
Candidate David Littleproud David Gillespie Keith Pitt
Caucus vote ≥11[a] <11[a] <11[a]
Seat Maranoa (QLD) Lyne (NSW) Hinkler (QLD)
Deputy Leader before election

Bridget McKenzie

 Elected Deputy Leader

David Littleproud

A leadership spill for the federal leadership of the National Party of Australia was held on 4 February 2020, and was called by the Member for Wide Bay, Llew O'Brien.[2]

The spill was called amid reports that former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was considering a challenge against the incumbent, Michael McCormack.[3][4] Following the spill in the regularly scheduled party room meeting, McCormack retained his position as leader. Some National MPs claimed the vote was as close as 11 to 10, however others say it was closer to 16-5.[5][6][7]

A ballot for the deputy leadership was also held following Bridget McKenzie's resignation following the 2018–20 "Sports rorts" affair.[8][9] It was won by David Littleproud.[5]

Candidates

Declared

Leader
Deputy Leader

Declined

Deputy Leader

Aftermath

As Matt Canavan resigned the day before the spill to support Joyce in the leadership spill, Canavan joined McKenzie in the backbenches. However, they remained deputy and leader of the Nationals in the Senate, despite losing their ministerial portfolios, as the other three Nationals senators were first-termers and thus considered ill-equipped to assume the leadership positions.[12][13]

On 10 February 2020, O'Brien quit the Nationals party room and sat with neither Nationals nor the Liberals, but remained a member of the Liberal National Party and sat with the Morrison government in parliament.[14] The following day he was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, having been nominated by the Labor Opposition to the position made vacant by the resignation of Kevin Hogan, who had recently been elevated to the Ministry. O'Brien was elected over the Government's nominated choice, Nationals MP Damian Drum.[15] O'Brien returned to sit in the Nationals party room in December 2020.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e The National Party does not release the results of their internal elections.[1]

References

  1. ^ Grattan, Michelle (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce's leadership challenge fails, taking minister down with him". InDaily. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  2. ^ Coorey, Phillip (3 February 2020). "Coalition chaos as Joyce mounts challenge and Canavan quits". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Barnaby Joyce prepared to challenge for Nationals leadership". SBS News. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ^ Grattan, Michelle (3 February 2020). "Richard Di Natale quits Greens leadership, as Barnaby Joyce seeks a tilt at Michael McCormack". The Conversation. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Snape, Jack (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce to challenge Michael McCormack in Nationals leadership spill as Parliament returns, live coverage". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  6. ^ van Onselen, Peter [@vanOnselenP] (3 February 2020). "Confirmed: 11-10" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Martin, Sarah (3 February 2020). "Michael McCormack sees off Barnaby Joyce in National party leadership spill". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. ^ Pearce, Lara (2 February 2020). "Bridget McKenzie resigns from cabinet over sports grant saga". Nine News. Nine Network. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Bridget McKenzie quits frontbench over report she breached ministerial standards". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Barnaby Joyce seeking to replace Michael McCormack if Nationals spill leadership". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Gippsland MHR Darren Chester will not contest for Nationals deputy leadership". Gippsland Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Michael McCormack defeats Barnaby Joyce to remain Nationals leader". ABC News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Anthony Albanese says public wants 'practical' action on climate change – as it happened". The Guardian. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  14. ^ Doran, Matthew; Borys, Stephanie (3 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room". ABC News. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  15. ^ Doran, Matthew; Borys, Stephanie (10 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room only to win a shock promotion". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  16. ^ Murphy, Jamieson (7 December 2020). "Rebel Nationals MP Llew O'Brien rejoins party after 10-month sabbatical". FarmOnline. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
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