OPINION: Why the next deputy prime minister might be from our region

It’s not hard to imagine the next leader of the Nationals and Australian deputy prime minister coming in the form of Hinkler’s Keith Pitt or Wide Bay’s Llew O’Brien.

Federal member for Wide Bay Llew O'Brien and Federal member for Hinkler Keith Pitt.

It’s not hard to imagine the next leader of the Nationals and Australian deputy prime minister coming in the form of Hinkler’s Keith Pitt or Wide Bay’s Llew O’Brien.

In the wake of the dramatic return to leadership by Barnaby Joyce on Monday and the ousting of the leader of three years, Michael McCormack, the time felt right to reflect on what might come for our own federal MPs.

The region already enjoyed the distinction of having former member for Wide Bay Warren Truss serve as leader as deputy prime minister for a number of years.

For the sake of the party’s unity, which has just been given a bit of a rattle, both men would probably deny having any leadership ambitions of their own.

But both would be well within their rights to envision a future at the head of the party.

As far as leadership goes, both men are vastly different, but they bring a lot to the table.

I would speculate both voted differently at this week’s spill.

Mr Pitt strikes me as more of a McCormack man, while Mr O’Brien previously moved for a spill for an earlier Joyce leadership challenge.

Mr Pitt is a Nationals man through and through.

The ideals of the party are completely compatible with his politics.

And he’s not afraid to be controversial.

Whatever you think of the Cashless Debit Card, he had the guts to introduce it to the Hinkler region, hoping it would provide part of the punch needed to break through intergenerational welfare reliance.

Mr Pitt has been steadfast in sticking to this trial and love or hate the card, I think it would be hard to argue that he hadn’t accurately read the room.

In the years since the introduction of the card, Mr Pitt has been resoundingly re-elected in what one can only say is a ringing endorsement of him as a member and of the cashless card.

Say what you will, he risked his political career for the policy and has been rewarded with more support than ever.

Mr Pitt was named the Minister Resources, Water and Northern Australia in February last year and one must think it’s just the beginning of his star beginning to rise.

Then you look at Mr O’Brien.

He hasn’t always toed the party line.

In fact, at times he has been at odds with the Nationals, pushing and fighting for a four-lane bypass for Tiaro and refusing to sign off on a press release that was ready to go endorsing two lanes.

It would be fascinating to know what went on behind closed doors to make four lanes happen for Tiaro.

The Tiaro bypass debate was also a test.

How much clout did O’Brien have within his own party?

Would he be listened to? Could he persuade others to see his side?

Well, that was answered with a resounding yes when the four lane bypass was announced earlier this month.

He’s been a renegade, even walking away from the Nationals after the failed Joyce challenge in February last year, essentially acting as an independent before coming back into the fold in December.

He was named deputy speaker with the aid of the Labor vote and against the government’s wishes.

But Mr O’Brien relished the role and accepted it with humility.

It hasn’t been the most conventional political career, but the former police officer has certainly stayed true to himself throughout.

It will be fascinating to see what comes next for these two men.

And if one does rise to the top job, while the leadership would look vastly different between the two, there will be no shortage of pride in the region and both would do their best for the nation.

Originally published as OPINION: Why the next deputy prime minister might be from our region