‘Buggered’: emotional Nationals leader makes shock exit
David Littleproud shocked his colleagues by announcing he was resigning as leader of the National Party, saying he had run out of strength to lead the party.
Mr Littleproud will remain in parliament as the member for Maranoa and said he loved representing regional Queenslanders but it would not be right for him to remain at the head of the party.
“I just went nuts,” he told reporters at an emotional press conference alongside his wife, Amelia, in Canberra on Tuesday.
“It would be wrong for me to say that I’m the right person to continue to lead. It’s hard for me to say that.”
“I think someone better could do this because I don’t have the energy.”
Mr Littleproud said he wanted to spend more time with his family but still loved coming to parliament, so he did not resign altogether.
“I want to come back here with that spring in my step, with the excitement of coming here, throwing a few grenades, drinking a few beers and having fun, just like when I first entered parliament, and I haven’t experienced that in a while,” he said.
Matt Canavan, one of the regional party’s most outspoken members, became the first to throw his hat in the ring for the party’s top job on Tuesday.
But there is no clear successor to the leadership, with other potential candidates including MP Kevin Hogan, the party’s Senate leader Bridget McKenzie and former leader Michael McCormack.
Senator Canavan thanked the outgoing leader by announcing his candidacy on social media.
Senator McKenzie was unsure whether he would run for leadership.
“David has just resigned and I think it’s incumbent on all of us to really think about his service; it’s not easy to lead a political movement, especially after such a devastating defeat in the last election,” she told ABC TV.
A National party chamber meeting will be held by the end of the week to elect the new leader.
Mr Littleproud first entered parliament in 2016, representing one of the safest seats in the country, and took over leadership of the National Party after the coalition’s 2022 election defeat.
He sparked controversy when he announced he would not renew his coalition agreement with the Liberals after the 2025 election, citing policy disagreements.
The parties reconvened but split again in January following a dispute over hate speech laws and came back together weeks later.
The national election was under pressure from One Nation due to a rise in the polls when former leader Barnaby Joyce joined Pauline Hanson’s party in December.
Mr Littleproud survived a leadership challenge from Queensland reserve Colin Boyce in February.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor paid tribute to the outgoing National Party leader, admitting he was a man of his word and said he played a critical role in shaping the direction of the coalition.
“David is a very honorable man who leads his party with great energy and determination,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wished Mr Littleproud well.
“Being elected as the leader of your party is an important achievement,” he said in a statement.
“David can look back on his four years as a leader of the Nationals and his 10 years as a member of Maranoa knowing that he did his best.”
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