Larry Anthony ready to lead the Nationals

Former Howard government minister Larry Anthony will be elected federal president of the Nationals this weekend.

Former Howard government minister Larry Anthony will be elected federal president of the Nationals this weekend in ­defiance of his Queensland party leaders, who tried to block him taking the job because he is a ­lobbyist.

The Brisbane-based former NSW federal MP yesterday ­secured the backing of the party’s South Australian division, which appointed him a ­delegate to the conference, ­removing the last hurdle for his election. Mr Anthony’s election unopposed is likely to fuel infighting between Queensland’s Liberal National Party and the state divisions and federal secretariat of the Nationals.

Queensland party bosses had refused to give Mr Anthony, an LNP member, the “delegate ­status’’ needed to run for the presidency because of its ban on lobbyists being party officials.

The LNP also opposed the only other nominee for the federal presidency, former West Australian state MP Dexter ­Davies, because he works as a political staffer in the Barnett state government. Mr Davies is withdrawing his nomination.

LNP Queensland president Bruce McIver had considered running for the presidency but did not nominate because of ­interstate opposition. Mr McIver announced this week he would retire from the state role.

Yesterday, Mr Anthony said he wanted to reunify the party following internal brawls.

“I was nominated out of NSW and I have now got the necessary delegate status out of SA and am delighted to be the incoming president,’’ he said. “I want to build unity at an administrative level and provide the support to the (federal) parliamentary team as they go into a crucial election year. There have been some tensions but we need to put that ­behind us. It’s about looking forward and providing a strong, independent voice for regional people and to be part of a strong ­Coalition.’’

Neither Mr McIver nor the LNP returned calls last night.

The LNP is formally a division of the federal Liberal Party and an affiliate of the Nationals, with eight of its federal MPs and senators in the 21-strong Nationals partyroom.

Despite Queensland MP and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss leading the Nationals parliamentary team in Canberra, there are suspicions about LNP officials heading the organisation of the rural-based party and pushing for a nationwide merger of the parties.

Mr Anthony said he believed he had widespread support as president in the party and only a “small, vocal minority’’ had ­opposed him. Although he would retain his interests in his lobbying company, which also offers media management, he would not be personally involved in any lobbying in future, he said.