Nationals Chose Replacement After Littleproud’s Resignation

After the Nationals’ current leader David Littleproud has suddenly stepped down on 10th March, Queensland senator Matt Canavan has been elected as the party’s new leader on 12th March.

During a press conference, Littleproud stepped down from leadership, stating that he was exhausted and had intended to resign after the Coalition reunited for a second time in months earlier this year. Although he will still continue to serve in parliament as the member for Maranoa and said he intended to contest the next federal election in 2028.

Canavan acknowledged the threat of One Nation to the Nationals’ vote, but said he would ‘fight for the Australian people’ as the party’s leader. “I will now not rest to fight for our nation, to get back, to use our resources, to fight for the Australian people, to put our country first,” he told reporters in Canberra. However, he is not without controversies, due to how in recent months he has often been at odds with the party’s official position under the leadership of Littleproud, having repeatedly told the Coalition to ditch commitments to achieving net zero, which is an issue pertinent to the Coalition’s first breakup last year.