Region’s MPs react to Nationals’ leadership spill

Both the member for Hinkler and member for Wide Bay have spoken out after Barnaby Joyce was sensationally returned as leader of the Nationals.

Both the member for Hinkler and member for Wide Bay have spoken out after Barnaby Joyce was sensationally returned as leader of the Nationals

Both the member for Hinkler and member for Wide Bay have spoken out after Barnaby Joyce was sensationally returned as leader of the Nationals on Monday.

Mr Joyce will also be the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia after he successfully contested the spill against Michael McCormack.

Mr Joyce resigned from his role as deputy prime minister and leader of the Nationals in 2018.

Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said he welcomed the return of Mr Joyce as leader.

“Barnaby is a good friend to me, to Wide Bay and to Queensland,” he said.

“I have a good relationship with Barnaby, we work well together, and Barnaby’s return will be a constructive and positive move for our region.

“Barnaby lives and breathes regional Australia.

“He’s a champion of the bush having served as Minister Agriculture and Minister Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.”

Mr O’Brien said Mr Joyce understood the challenges faced in regional areas.

“The need for more industry and manufacturing to create jobs, the need for better roads to connect communities, the need to support agriculture to feed and clothe our nation, and the need to keep energy prices down to save household budgets,” he said.

“I acknowledge and thank Michael McCormack for his service as Party Leader.

“I congratulate Barnaby on his elevation and wish him and his partner Vikki Campion, and their boys Sebastian and Thomas, all the best in this new chapter of their lives.”

Hinkler MP Keith Pitt said as the democratically elected leader of the National Party, Mr Joyce had his full support.

“The National Party is the most democratic of all political parties and today our federal Parliamentary members exercised that right within the Party Room to select their leader,” Mr Pitt said.

Originally published as Region’s MPs react to Nationals’ leadership spill