David Littleproud has survived a dramatic party room challenge, clinging to the Nationals’ leadership after a vote in Canberra.
The Nationals gathered on Monday afternoon for the first time since Littleproud moved to dissolve the Coalition in January, exposing deep divisions within the party.
A full-blown showdown was avoided when Queensland LNP MP Colin Boyce’s spill motion failed, falling short of the numbers needed to oust the leader.
Nationals Whip Michelle Landry declined to reveal vote numbers or confirm who seconded Boyce’s challenge when she revealed the result to the media.
‘We’re not disclosing that,’ Landry said when asked how close the vote was.
‘Our goal is to work extensively on our policies and get on with being a good opposition.’
Boyce’s move reflected anger from Nationals MPs furious at Littleproud’s decision to break with the Liberals.
Representing the Queensland seat of Flynn, Boyce warned the party was ‘heading over a cliff’ and insisted the Nationals could not hope to fend off One Nation at upcoming elections without support from the Liberals.
National Party Leader David Littleproud (pictured) has survived a leadership challenge
Littleproud is expected to meet Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Monday night, raising the prospect that the two leaders could begin rebuilding the Coalition.
He is understood to be demanding the reinstatement of former Nationals frontbenchers Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell as shadow ministers as a condition for any deal.
Littleproud will also push for rule changes allowing Nationals shadow ministers to vote differently from their Liberal colleagues.
McKenzie, McDonald and Cadell quit the frontbench after voting against the Albanese government’s proposed hate‑speech laws, introduced in the wake of last month’s Bondi Beach terror attack.
Under Coalition cabinet rules, any frontbench MP who votes against an agreed shadow‑cabinet position must resign.
