Several National Party MPs, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Age and Herald that Deputy Leader David Littleproud was also expected to take part in the leadership competition and potentially present himself with a ticket to Chester. as an adjunct. Littleproud did not answer The Age’s calls, but in a radio interview, he declined to rule out running for leader.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack has confirmed he will also consider a move to regain the lead he lost to Joyce in June 2021, attacking Joyce and Senator Matt Canavan for their behavior during the election campaign.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack (left) is also considering a change of leadership, which he lost last year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
McCormack said Joyce had been armed by Labor and independent candidates in blue-collar liberal seats and that Canavan had been “crazy” in declaring in the middle of the campaign that the Coalition’s policy to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions on 2050 was “dead.”
McCormack said the nationals were in a “desperate” position now that the coalition was out of government.
“We are partners in a coalition that served Australia well. We are now in a crushing defeat,” he said. “It cannot be handed over to the opposition, when it is not in the banks of the Treasury defending services for the regional population.”
Chester said it would take a few days to decide whether to offer the leadership, but set out his vision of the party, promising to “build consensus” in Canberra. He said he had already contacted the new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, offering to keep him informed on regional issues given the low number of rural Labor seats.
“If I had to run and be successful, it would be a major change in leadership style,” Chester said.
“I would approach the role in the same way that I approached my position in Gippsland, and that is to present a positive and constructive agenda for the future of the Australian region rather than seek to divide our communities.”
Chester said if elected leader, Joyce would remain on the first bench.
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A source close to Joyce said that while waiting for a challenge from Chester next week, he was confident that the Victorian would be “overwhelmingly rejected” by the party hall.
“I think I would get a maximum of six votes,” the source said. “I don’t think he has Buckley’s [chance]. ”
A group of 21 or 22 members of the party hall will choose the next leader of the Nationals.
On Tuesday, Joyce continued to reject criticism that his comments on the zero-net target had hurt the Liberal Party. He also refused to rule out a split from the coalition, but said his preference was to continue the association with the Liberals.
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