‘We were pigeonholed’: Nationals leader David Littleproud reveals ambitious rebrand

Speaking after his sensational split from the Liberals, David Littleproud has revealed the foreign policy, defence and economics agenda for the new-look Nationals.

After sensationally breaking up with the Liberal Party, Nationals leader David Littleproud has promised a major rebrand of the regional party that will now count foreign policy, defence and economics as part of its core business.

It comes as the fallout of the Coalition’s catastrophic election loss continued with Mr Littleproud blaming a contentious Liberal policy for the National’s failure to win Bendigo.

Mr Littleproud — who was recently re-elected leader of the party after a challenge from conservative Senator Matt Canavan — said the junior Coalition partner had been “pigeonholed for a long time.”

David Littleproud said the Nationals have been pigeonholed for a long time. Picture: David Clark

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph the day after announcing the party would not be renewing its Coalition agreement, Mr Littleproud said the Nationals will never “forget their base” in the bush but there is “opportunity to broaden our base”.

“I intend to appoint an economics spokesman, we will be vocal in the national debate, we will be vocal across the political spectrum,” he said.

“There will be a foreign affairs spokesman, defence. we have got a considerable diverse background in our party, we have just as much economic credentials (as the Liberals).”

As both sides of the Coalition reflected on the election result, Mr Littleproud blamed the Liberals’ policy on banning work from home for federal public servants for its loss in Bendigo.

The Labor held seat beat the nationwide trend of a swing to the government with 9.7 per cent swing away from them.

But Nationals’ candidate Andrew Lethlean ultimately lost the seat 51.55 to 48.45 on a two party preferred basis.

Bendigo Nats candidate Andrew Lethlean and Nats federal leader David Littleproud outside the Bendigo central polling booth on election day 2025.

“That was a miracle we even came that close if you look at the national swing … work from home killed us in Bendigo,” Mr Littleproud said.

“A lot of people commute to Melbourne from Bendigo, that really just meant we couldn’t pull that off which was a tragedy for the Nationals.”

Liberals have also claimed the work from home policy proved toxic in many seats including Robertson on The Central Coast of NSW.

It was ultimately dumped during the campaign after backlash from female voters in particular.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud, Deputy Leader Kevin Hogan and Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie after the Coalition split announcement. Picture: AAP

Despite the party rebrand, Mr Littleproud said “I’ll be me” when asked if he was willing to pander to the more conservative forces in his party room.

Many view Mr Littleproud — who has been vocally pro-choice on women’s reproductive rights — as a more progressive choice for the party but some in the party room are pushing for the Nationals to move further to the right.

“I don’t intend to change anything,” he said.

“People who pigeonhole me have done that for a political narrative.

“I’m the National party leader who has had the courage to take the tough decisions like Voice, like nuclear, like divestiture (powers), like yesterday.”

Originally published as ‘We were pigeonholed’: Nationals leader David Littleproud reveals ambitious rebrand