David Littleproud survives Nationals leadership challenge

After days of chaos, the National Party’s post-election leadership contest has come to an end.

David Littleproud has successfully fended off Matt Canavan’s challenge for the National Party leadership.

Senator Canavan last week announced he was gunning for the party’s leadership after the federal election’s results laid bare deep division within the Coalition, with the Liberal Party not consulting the junior partner on key policies.

He argued the junior Coalition partner needed to focus more on the people it represents.

But Mr Littleproud, who welcomed the challenge as “democracy taking place”, emerged from Monday’s vote victorious.

David Littleproud has fended off a leadership challenge from Queensland senator Matt Canavan. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s a great honour to lead our great party,” he told reporters at Parliament House.

“I’m proud of our achievements over the last three years — the last three years where I think we set the policy agenda.”

Kevin Hogan was voted in as deputy leader, replacing Perin Davey after she conceded she would lose her Senate seat.

Bridget McKenzie was also reinstated as Nationals leader in the Senate.

Echoing his colleagues, Mr Littleproud stressed that Senator Davey’s loss was not her fault.

“I’m proud of the Nationals and our result,” he said.

“While unfortunately, Perin Davey won’t be successful, that’s not a reflection of her or the NSW Nationals.

“That’s a reflection of a drop in the Liberal vote that she’s part of a joint ticket in.”

Kevin Hogan (left) has been elected deputy Nationals leader while Bridget McKenzie (right) has been reinstated as Nationals leader in the Senate. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Littleproud said there were “lessons to be learnt” from the election but was hesitant to be specific on what policies were on the table, with the leader sticking by the Coalition’s nuclear policy.

“We’re going to review all our policies and we’ll do that in a calm, methodical way, similar to the way that we worked through the Voice to make sure we understand the implications of any decisions we make,” he said.

“But we’ll be principled — principled about the people that we represent and making sure we understand the implications of that.

“So we’re not rushing into anything, but we will work through that in a collegial way.”

However, he was clear that the National Party would “push for more power” in the Coalition.

McCormack backs Littleproud

Michael McCormack earlier threw his support behind Mr Littleproud ahead of the vote.

Mr McCormack, who served as deputy prime minister in the former Coalition government, on Monday wished both men well, but praised Mr Littleproud for leading “a team where we’ve retained for the sixth election in a row”.

The Nationals retained all of their seats, but failed to win back the central NSW seat of Calare from Andrew Gee who quit over the Voice referendum, or pick up new seats in Bendigo or Bullwinkel.

Nationals MP Michael McCormack has thrown his support behind David Littleproud ahead of the Nationals’ leadership vote. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s a healthy democracy when you can have a ballot,” the NSW MP told Sky News.

“Matthew Canavan has put his hand up to contest the leadership. Who knows, there may be others, but at this stage, it’s just David and Matthew, and I wish them both well.

“Matthew obviously has been very strident on a number of topics and good luck to him.

“But David has led a team where we’ve retained for the sixth election in a row each and every one of our lower house seats, and I think credit to the Nationals, because I think a lot of other parties could learn a thing or three from us in that regard.”

At publishing, Labor was on track to win 93 lower house seats, while the Coalition had been reduced to 42 mostly due to a collapse in support for the Liberal Party.

In the post-mortem, it was revealed the Liberals did not consult the Nationals on key policies before announcing them as part of the election platform.

The relationship between the two party’s has been further strained by Senator Davey losing her Senate seat and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defecting to the Liberal party room.

Senator Matt Canavan says the Nationals ‘deserve a choice’ of leaders. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Canavan’s move to contest the Nationals leadership had been largely interpreted as about sending a message more than a genuine bid for the party’s top job.

Earlier on Monday, he said the National Party needed “a shake” and that voters deserved a “choice”.

“I’ve been someone who’s said for a long time that we should take a different tack on some issues,” he told the ABC.

“I think this whole net zero agenda is tying this nation down, costing us a fortune on the government’s own fees will cost $9 trillion over the next few decades.

“It’s time for a different approach.”

Originally published as David Littleproud survives Nationals leadership challenge