Littleproud vows to bring Nationals to ‘sensible centre’

The new-look Nationals will not chase political “extremities”, leader David Littleproud has declared. But some are already accusing him of moving the party “to the left”, fearing it could cause “all sorts of grief”.

The new-look Queensland-led Nationals will not chase political “extremities”, new leader David Littleproud has declared, as he signalled a shift toward wholehearted support of net zero by 2050 as a policy that “protects” the regions.

It comes as the Liberals lock in Queensland’s Peter Dutton as their leader, putting the Sunshine State at the centre of the Coalition’s rebuild.

Negotiations are now under way for a new-look post-government Coalition agreement, with Mr Littleproud vowing to push for an “equitable, fair and sensible deal” to benefit regional ­Australians and those in the “sensible centre”.

Nationals party leader David Littleproud, centre, with Bridget McKenzie and Perin Davey. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

But the three-way tussle for the Nationals leadership and the dethroning of Barnaby Joyce for the second time has worsened divisions within the junior Coalition partner, with some already accusing the new leader of moving the party “to the left”.

Mr Littleproud, speaking to The Courier-Mail, said he would not lurch the Nationals “to the left or the right”.

“Not to chase extremities, but to use common sense, to bring common sense to Canberra and to actually be the sensible centre,” he said.

“Everyone needs to appreciate, had we not signed up to net-zero by 2050 … farmers and homeowners will be ­getting less for their commodities because they’d be tariffed (internationally).

“We came up with a policy that actually protected traditional industries and gave opportunities in new industries, backed in technology, not the big hand of government telling people what to do.”

The former rural banker-turned-Maranoa MP emerged from the Nationals party room, alongside new deputy leader Senator Perin Davey after a meeting that lasted more than two hours. His margin of victory is unknown.

Despite the enthusiasm for net-zero, Mr Littleproud signalled that the Nationals would not support Labor’s 2030 emissions reduction ­target of 43 per cent, which scientists say still falls short of what is needed.

“We’re not telling Australians what to do, they’re doing it themselves, that’s the country I live in,” he said.

On the Liberal end, Mr Dutton said he was “supportive of serious policy” on climate action, but would not back in Labor’s target either.

New Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton and his deputy Sussan Ley. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

This comes against the backdrop of enough voters in the pair’s home state of Queensland switching allegiances to the Greens to oust two LNP MPs and a Labor MP from Brisbane seats.

Central Queensland Nationals-aligned MP Michelle Landry, ahead of the ballot on Monday, said she believed the party had “taken the Greens too lightly”.

“I think we really need to revisit our position on some of the key areas of policy and have good discussions with the Liberals on that,” she said.

“Because you can’t have people running off with different agendas.”

A Nationals-aligned politician speaking after the ballot said the election of Mr Littleproud would “move the party left” and “cause us all sorts of grief” in an atmosphere where the vote is splintered in the regions due to the minor parties.

In a statement, Mr Joyce congratulated the Nationals’ new leadership team and warned they had “a mighty task ahead of them”.

“I suppose you think I am sad. Not really,” he said.

“I gave every ounce of my energy to make sure that I looked after the people of ­regional Australia, the people in the small family businesses, the people in the weatherboard and iron, the people on the farms.”

As expected, Mr Dutton was elected unopposed by the Liberal party room on Monday. A Liberal-aligned source said it would be “remiss” of Mr Dutton not to retain the senior Queenslanders on the frontbench of the former ­government, though in different capacities.

There are expectations the Coalition’s shadow frontbench will need significant female representation, though former foreign affairs minister Marise Payne is understood to have ruled herself out of contention.

New deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has vowed to raise the idea of gender quotas – an idea she has previously championed to resistance from colleagues – at the next party room meeting.

It’s understood Queensland MP Stuart Robert will be angling for a position on Mr Dutton’s frontbench, but is expected to be disadvantaged by his position as a close confidant of former prime minister Scott Morrison.

Queensland Senator James McGrath, a long-time backer of Mr Dutton, may be elevated.

Ms Ley was elected unopposed as the new Liberals’ deputy leader, replacing Josh Frydenberg. First-term Senator Davey, whose colourful CV includes credits as an extra on Home And Away, African safari trail operator and truck-driving army reservist, was voted in as deputy leader of the Nationals. This was also a three-way tussle involving Mallee MP Anne Webster and Page MP Kevin Hogan. Bridget McKenzie was re-elected Nationals leader in the Senate.