2020 National Party of Australia leadership spill

Last updated

2020 National Party of Australia
leadership spill
The National Party of Australia Logo.svg
←  2018 4 February 2020 2021  →
Leadership election
  Michael McCormack 2018-01 (cropped).jpg Barnaby Joyce portrait.jpg
Candidate Michael McCormack Barnaby Joyce
Caucus vote≥11 [lower-alpha 1] <11 [lower-alpha 1]
Seat Riverina (NSW) New England (NSW)
Leader before election

Michael McCormack

Elected Leader

Michael McCormack

Deputy leadership election
The National Party of Australia Logo.svg
  David Littleproud.jpg David Gillespie 2017 (cropped).jpg Keith Pitt Portrait 2013.jpg
Candidate David Littleproud David Gillespie Keith Pitt
Caucus vote≥11 [lower-alpha 1] <11 [lower-alpha 1] <11 [lower-alpha 1]
Seat Maranoa (QLD) Lyne (NSW) Hinkler (QLD)
Deputy Leader before election

Bridget McKenzie

Elected Deputy Leader

David Littleproud

A leadership spill for the federal leadership of the National Party of Australia was held on 4 February 2020, and was called by the Member for Wide Bay, Llew O'Brien. [2]

Contents

The spill was called amid reports that former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was considering a challenge against the incumbent, Michael McCormack. [3] [4] Following the spill in the regularly scheduled party room meeting, McCormack retained his position as leader. Some National MPs claimed the vote was as close as 11 to 10, however others say it was closer to 16-5. [5] [6] [7]

A ballot for the deputy leadership was also held following Bridget McKenzie's resignation following the 2018–20 "Sports rorts" affair. [8] [9] It was won by David Littleproud. [5]

Candidates

Declared

Leader
Deputy Leader

Declined

Deputy Leader

Aftermath

As Matt Canavan resigned the day before the spill to support Joyce in the leadership spill, Canavan joined McKenzie in the backbenches. However, they remained deputy and leader of the Nationals in the Senate, despite losing their ministerial portfolios, as the other three Nationals senators were first-termers and thus considered ill-equipped to assume the leadership positions. [12] [13]

On 10 February 2020, O'Brien quit the Nationals party room and sat with neither Nationals nor the Liberals, but remained a member of the Liberal National Party and sat with the Morrison government in parliament. [14] The following day he was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, having been nominated by the Labor Opposition to the position made vacant by the resignation of Kevin Hogan, who had recently been elevated to the Ministry. O'Brien was elected over the Government's nominated choice, Nationals MP Damian Drum. [15] O'Brien returned to sit in the Nationals party room in December 2020. [16]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The National Party does not release the results of their internal elections. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnaby Joyce</span> Australian politician (born 1967)

Barnaby Thomas Gerard Joyce is an Australian politician who served as the leader of the National Party of Australia from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2021 to 2022. Joyce served as the 17th deputy prime minister of Australia during both his leadership tenures under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull from 2016 to 2018 and Prime Minister Scott Morrison from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damian Drum</span> Australian politician

Damian Kevin Drum is an Australian politician who has represented Murray and Nicholls in the Australian House of Representatives since the 2016 federal election as a member of The Nationals. Drum served as the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister in the Second Turnbull Ministry between 20 December 2017 and 5 March 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal National Party of Queensland</span> Political party in Queensland, Australia

The Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) is a major political party in Queensland, Australia. It was formed in 2008 by a merger of the Queensland divisions of the Liberal Party and the National Party. At a federal level and in most other states, the two parties remain distinct and often operate as a Coalition. The LNP is a division of the Liberal Party of Australia, and an affiliate of the National Party of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Coulton</span> Australian politician

Mark Maclean Coulton is an Australian politician. He is a member of the National Party and has served in the House of Representatives since the 2007 federal election, representing the Division of Parkes in New South Wales. He has served as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government (2020–2021), Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government (2019–2020), Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment (2019–2020), Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (2018–2019), and Deputy Speaker of the House (2016–2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Chester</span> Australian politician (born 1967)

Darren Jeffrey Chester is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for Gippsland in Victoria, representing the Nationals since 2008. Chester had served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Defence Personnel between March 2018 and July 2021 in the Turnbull and Morrison governments. He was also Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC until May 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael McCormack (Australian politician)</span> Australian politician (born 1964)

Michael Francis McCormack is an Australian politician who served as the 18th deputy prime minister of Australia from 2018 to 2021 under Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and later Scott Morrison. He was also Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, having previously served as Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 2017 to 2018. McCormack has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2010, representing the Division of Riverina in New South Wales. He was a newspaper editor before entering politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridget McKenzie</span> Australian politician (born 1969)

Bridget McKenzie is an Australian politician. She is a member of the National Party and has been a Senator for Victoria since 2011. She has held ministerial office in the Turnbull and Morrison governments, also serving as the party's Senate leader since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Hogan (politician)</span> Australian politician (born 1963)

Kevin John Hogan is an Australian politician. He has been a Nationals member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Page in New South Wales, since September 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gillespie (politician)</span> Australian politician and gastroenterologist

David Arthur Gillespie is an Australian politician and gastroenterologist. He is a member of the National Party and has served in the House of Representatives since 2013, representing the New South Wales seat of Lyne. He held ministerial portfolios during the Turnbull and Morrison governments as Assistant Minister for Rural Health (2016–2017), Assistant Minister for Health (2017), Assistant Minister for Children and Families (2017–2018), Minister for Regional Health (2021–2022), and Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment (2021–2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Pitt</span> Australian politician

Keith John Pitt is an Australian politician. He is a member of the National Party and has represented the Division of Hinkler in Queensland since the 2013 federal election. He was a member of cabinet in the Morrison government as Minister for Resources and Water and also served as an assistant minister in the Turnbull government. He was an electrical engineer and businessman before entering politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Canavan</span> Australian politician

Matthew James Canavan is an Australian politician. He was elected to the Australian Senate representing the state of Queensland at the 2013 federal election for the term beginning 1 July 2014. He won re-election at the 2016 election and again at the 2022 Australian federal election. He was the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia between February 2016 and February 2020. He is a member of the Liberal National Party and sits with National Party in federal parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steph Ryan</span> Australian politician

Stephanie Maureen Ryan is a former Australian politician. She was a National Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2022, representing the Legislative Assembly seat of Euroa. Ryan retired from politics at the 2022 Victorian state election, citing family reasons. Making the announcement while pregnant with her second child, Ryan expressed a desire to seek more flexible employment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Littleproud</span> Australian politician

David Kelly Littleproud is an Australian politician who has been the leader of the National Party since May 2022. He has represented the Queensland seat of Maranoa since the 2016 federal election and was a cabinet minister in the Turnbull and Morrison governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llew O'Brien</span> Australian politician

Llewellyn Stephen O'Brien is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2016 federal election, representing the Division of Wide Bay. He was deputy speaker of the House from February 2020 to April 2022. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) and sits with the Nationals in federal parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Turnbull ministry</span> 70th ministry of government of Australia

The second Turnbull ministry was the 70th ministry of the Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It succeeded the first Turnbull ministry following the 2016 Australian federal election on 2 July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 National Party of Australia leadership election</span>

A leadership election was held on 26 February 2018 to select Barnaby Joyce's replacement as leader of the National Party of Australia and Deputy Prime Minister. Michael McCormack was elected party leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">46th Parliament of Australia</span> 2019–2022 meeting of the Australian Parliament

The 46th Parliament of Australia was a meeting of the legislative branch of the Australian federal government, composed of the Australian Senate and the Australian House of Representatives. The 2019 federal election gave the Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties control of the House, originally with a three-seat majority, allowing their leader Scott Morrison to stay in office as the 30th Prime Minister of Australia. The 46th Parliament was opened in Canberra on 2 July 2019 and was dissolved by the Governor General David Hurley on 11 April 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Morrison ministry</span> Australian government ministry led by Scott Morrison

The second Morrison ministry was the 72nd ministry of the Australian Government. It was led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The second Morrison ministry succeeded the first Morrison ministry following the 2019 Australian federal election. The ministry was announced on 26 May 2019 and was sworn in on 29 May. Following the Coalition's defeat at the 2022 election, the ministry was succeeded by the Albanese ministry on 23 May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 National Party of Australia leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill for the federal leadership of the National Party of Australia was held on 21 June 2021, and was called by the Senator for Queensland, Matt Canavan. Following the spill in the regularly scheduled party room meeting, the incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack was defeated by his predecessor Barnaby Joyce, who assumed the former's position as leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 National Party of Australia leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill for the federal leadership of the National Party of Australia was held on 30 May 2022. The spill follows the federal election in which the Coalition, of which the Nationals form part, lost government, earlier in the same month. The incumbent leader, Barnaby Joyce, had served as Deputy Prime Minister in the outgoing government. He lost against his deputy David Littleproud, who was elected party leader.

References

  1. ↑ Grattan, Michelle (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce's leadership challenge fails, taking minister down with him". InDaily. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Coorey, Phillip (3 February 2020). "Coalition chaos as Joyce mounts challenge and Canavan quits". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Barnaby Joyce prepared to challenge for Nationals leadership". SBS News. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Grattan, Michelle (3 February 2020). "Richard Di Natale quits Greens leadership, as Barnaby Joyce seeks a tilt at Michael McCormack". The Conversation. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  5. 1 2 Snape, Jack (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce to challenge Michael McCormack in Nationals leadership spill as Parliament returns, live coverage". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  6. ↑ van Onselen, Peter [@vanOnselenP] (3 February 2020). "Confirmed: 11-10" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Martin, Sarah (3 February 2020). "Michael McCormack sees off Barnaby Joyce in National party leadership spill". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Pearce, Lara (2 February 2020). "Bridget McKenzie resigns from cabinet over sports grant saga". Nine News . Nine Network . Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "Bridget McKenzie quits frontbench over report she breached ministerial standards". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Barnaby Joyce seeking to replace Michael McCormack if Nationals spill leadership". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "Gippsland MHR Darren Chester will not contest for Nationals deputy leadership". Gippsland Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Michael McCormack defeats Barnaby Joyce to remain Nationals leader". ABC News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Anthony Albanese says public wants 'practical' action on climate change – as it happened". The Guardian. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  14. ↑ Doran, Matthew; Borys, Stephanie (3 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room". ABC News. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  15. ↑ Doran, Matthew; Borys, Stephanie (10 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room only to win a shock promotion". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  16. ↑ Murphy, Jamieson (7 December 2020). "Rebel Nationals MP Llew O'Brien rejoins party after 10-month sabbatical". FarmOnline. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.