Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack vows no retreat as rivals circle for Nationals leadership

Michael McCormack stares down challenge to Nationals leadership, threatening futures of rivals who support unsuccessful spill.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s supporters concede that he is at risk of losing the majority support of his partyroom. Picture: AAP

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is staring down a challenge to his leadership, declaring he is “not backing down” and threatening the political futures of any rivals who support an unsuccessful spill against him.

With Scott Morrison in quarantine at The Lodge, senior ­Nationals spent the weekend canvassing options to replace Mr McCormack, with Barnaby Joyce in the running to return as deputy prime minister along with leadership aspirants including Nationals deputy David Littleproud and ­Resources Minister Keith Pitt.

Mr McCormack’s supporters conceded on Sunday that he was at risk of losing the majority support of his partyroom, with Nationals MPs discussing whether to move a spill or no-confidence motion against him in Monday’s partyroom meeting.

The removal of Mr McCormack would trigger a cabinet ­reshuffle, risk deepening the ­Coalition’s climate change divisions and unwinding attempts by Mr Morrison to maintain unity over his net-zero emissions ­objectives.

“If (Mr Joyce) doesn’t have the numbers he is exceptionally close,” a supporter of Mr McCormack said.

Barnaby Joyce. Picture: Kym Smith

Keith Pitt

But Nationals senator Matt Canavan, a supporter of Mr Joyce, doubted there was enough appetite for a change in leader.

“I think the Nationals are suffering an identity crisis because Michael has failed to map out a clear alternate vision,” he said. “Barnaby is someone who has done that in the past and could in the future. (But) I don’t think the numbers are there for him.”

Speaking ahead of the crucial partyroom meeting, Mr McCormack told The Australian he would not accept any net-zero emissions plan that cost regional jobs and argued for the nuclear ­debate to be put back on the ­agenda.

“I’m not running away,” he said. “I’m certainly not backing down. I don’t know whether or not there will be a spill. If there is a spill and if indeed my colleagues wish there to be a vote I will be contesting the position. If I win that, well and good, I will continue to do my job. If they do bring on a spill and lose they should be thinking of their own futures.”

However, if he lost the leadership, Mr McCormack vowed to be a “team player”.

He also said the debate over achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 was not “top of mind” for those in the regions, arguing Australians were concerned about the economy and pandemic recovery and “not whether there is going to be some international agreement” on climate.

“I won’t support anything that will cost regional jobs. I’m not going to support anything that will cost jobs in the resources sector, cost jobs in manufacturing, cost jobs in factories, or indeed in agriculture … We also need to have the nuclear discussion.

“I’m worried about the global pandemic which has killed 3.8 million people. That is my focus. Not something that Greta Thunberg is extolling the virtues of.”

Mr Littleproud is unlikely to run against Mr McCormack if there is a spill. However, if a no-confidence motion were successful, Mr McCormack would be out of the race, paving the way for Mr Littleproud and Mr Pitt to run against Mr Joyce.

Mr Joyce and his key ally Llew O’Brien told The Australian they had no plans to bring on a spill in Monday’s partyroom meeting.

David Littleproud is unlikely to run against Michael McCormack if there is a spill. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I am not going to call a spill tomorrow,” Mr Joyce said, before hanging up the phone.

Mr O’Brien, who moved the spill of the leadership last year, said he had no plans to do the same on Monday. He also said he had no intention of moving a no-confidence motion.

“We have got some really good people in the National Party and these matters can be complicated,” Mr O’Brien said.

Liberal MPs are worried a return to Mr Joyce as Nationals leader would spell the end to the Prime Minister’s push to take meaningful action on climate change ahead of a United Nations conference in Glasgow this year.

“It would be disastrous if Barnaby Joyce became the Nationals leader. On everything he is just a wrecker,” a Liberal MP said. “Barnaby doesn’t care about getting us to a position on the ­environment which is sensible. He will turn the issue into a vote loser for us.”

The Prime Minister’s rhetoric with international leaders at the G7 has spooked the Nationals, with the concern exacerbated by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrongly saying that Australia had signed up to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

There is concern Mr McCormack is “standing by” while Mr Morrison prepares to back a net-zero emissions by 2050 target, with Liberals frustrated the ­Nationals are opposing the target before any modelling on its impact is released.

The Australian has been told Mr Pitt and Mr Littleproud raised no concerns with preliminary net-zero by 2050 modelling briefed this month by Energy Minister Angus Taylor.

The preliminary modelling — which was also briefed to Industry Minister Christian Porter and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg — is understood to have predicted jobs growth in the regions under the target and included no new taxes or cost to industry.

Mr Joyce was understood to have at least seven rusted-on votes – Mr O’Brien, Senator Canavan, George Christensen, Ken O’Dowd, David Gillespie and Sam McMahon – and would need to rely on the support of other disaffected MPs, including Andrew Gee and Bridget McKenzie.

Mr Gee, who Nationals MPs believe has dropped his support for Mr McCormack, said he was not buying into “pointless” speculation. The Australian understands if Mr Joyce reclaims the leadership, it would likely include a succession plan, meaning others including Mr Littleproud and Mr Pitt could have a tilt for the top job in a shorter time frame.

Under one scenario, Mr Littleproud – who has been in parliament for less than five years and is only 44 years old – would retain the deputy leadership under a promise of being elevated to the top job in the future.

In another scenario, if Mr McCormack and his group of supporters believe he cannot survive, they may back Mr Littleproud for leader.

Key motivators for the Nationals partyroom to support change include the upcoming election, in which the party faces several three-cornered contests, and the need to dramatically increase fundraising efforts, which have stagnated under Mr McCormack.

A trigger for many Nationals MPs was Mr McCormack’s performance as acting prime minister last week, following other recent flare-ups including concerns he would not back Senator McMahon in a Northern Territory preselection battle with Jacinta Price.

Assistant Northern Australia Minister Michelle Landry, who holds the regional seat of Capricornia, said she had not shifted her support away from Mr McCormack.

Mallee MP Anne Webster said the infighting during a pandemic was “appallingly timed”.

A key determining factor in Nationals leadership changes is the allocation of Cabinet and outer-ministry portfolios, which was effectively used by Mr Mc­Cormack in last year’s leadership challenge to narrowly defeat Mr Joyce.

Senator McKenzie, who was forced to quit the ministry over the sports rorts scandal, is understood to want a return to Cabinet.

The Australian understands Senator Canavan is not expected to pursue a return to cabinet, which would help free up a spot for Mr Joyce or Mr Littleproud to use.