2022 National Party of Australia leadership spill

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.

A separate leadership vote for the National Party's Coalition partner Liberal Party was also held on the same day.

Background[edit]

The Coalition lost the 2022 Australian federal election to the Labor opposition led by Anthony Albanese. There was significant media coverage surrounding the impact that comments made by Nationals politicians had on the loss of Liberal seats to independents, Labor and the Greens, particularly surrounding climate policy.^[2] The Nationals do not officially release the results of party leadership elections.

Candidates[edit]

Darren Chester, former Minister for Veterans' Affairs^[3]
David Littleproud, incumbent Deputy Leader and former Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia^[4]
Barnaby Joyce, incumbent leader and former Deputy Prime Minister.

Results[edit]

Littleproud won the spill and became the new party leader, with Perin Davey as his deputy.^[5] Even though Davey was a Senator, Bridget McKenzie was elected and remained leader of the Nationals in the Senate.^[6]

Notes[edit]

^ The National Party does not release the results of their internal elections.^[1]

References[edit]

^ Grattan, Michelle (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce's leadership challenge fails, taking minister down with him". InDaily. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
^ Karp, Paul (28 May 2022). "Labor's secret weapon? Defeated Liberal MP claims Barnaby Joyce even less popular than Scott Morrison". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
^ Chan, Gabrielle; Butler, Josh (27 May 2022). "'Time for change': Darren Chester confirms he will challenge Barnaby Joyce for Nationals leadership". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.
^ "David Littleproud to run against Barnaby Joyce for National party leadership". Australian Associated Press. 28 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2022 – via The Guardian.
^ Bucci, Nino; Cassidy, Caitlin (30 May 2022). "Vote counting continues with Labor one seat from majority – as it happened". The Guardian. David Littleproud to become leader of National party. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022. Senator Perin Davey from New South Wales will be the deputy leader.
^ "'We're up for the fight': Bridget McKenzie re-elected as Nationals Senate leader". Sky News. 30 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.

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[fn1-2] The National Party does not release the results of their internal elections.^[1]

[grattan-1] Grattan, Michelle (4 February 2020). "Barnaby Joyce's leadership challenge fails, taking minister down with him". InDaily. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2020.

[3] Karp, Paul (28 May 2022). "Labor's secret weapon? Defeated Liberal MP claims Barnaby Joyce even less popular than Scott Morrison". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2022.

[4] Chan, Gabrielle; Butler, Josh (27 May 2022). "'Time for change': Darren Chester confirms he will challenge Barnaby Joyce for Nationals leadership". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.

[5] "David Littleproud to run against Barnaby Joyce for National party leadership". Australian Associated Press. 28 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2022 – via The Guardian.

[6] Bucci, Nino; Cassidy, Caitlin (30 May 2022). "Vote counting continues with Labor one seat from majority – as it happened". The Guardian. David Littleproud to become leader of National party. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022. Senator Perin Davey from New South Wales will be the deputy leader.

[7] "'We're up for the fight': Bridget McKenzie re-elected as Nationals Senate leader". Sky News. 30 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.

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v t e National Party of Australia
Leaders	William McWilliams Earle Page Archie Cameron Arthur Fadden John McEwen Doug Anthony Ian Sinclair Charles Blunt Tim Fischer John Anderson Mark Vaile Warren Truss Barnaby Joyce Michael McCormack Barnaby Joyce David Littleproud
Deputy leaders	Edmund Jowett Henry Gregory William Fleming William Gibson Thomas Paterson Harold Thorby Arthur Fadden John McEwen Charles Davidson Charles Adermann Doug Anthony Ian Sinclair Ralph Hunt Bruce Lloyd John Anderson Mark Vaile Warren Truss Nigel Scullion Barnaby Joyce Fiona Nash Bridget McKenzie David Littleproud Perin Davey
Ministries	Page Fadden McEwen
State & Territory Divisions	New South Wales Northern Territory (Country Liberal Party) Queensland (Liberal National Party) South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia
Organisations	Coalition Young Nationals Young LNP
History	National Party of Australia – Queensland historic Country Party (South Australia) historic Victorian Farmers' Union Western Australian Farmers Federation Liberal and Country League National Alliance Independent National Leadership elections (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022) Deputy leadership elections (2020)