Senator Matt Canavan has been elected leader of the National Party of Australia after David Littleproud abruptly resigned from the position on Tuesday. Littleproud stunned his parliamentary colleagues by announcing his departure immediately after Question Time, telling them he was exhausted and could no longer continue in the role. Darren Chester, the federal member for Gippsland, was elected as the new deputy leader in the subsequent party room ballot.
Canavan, a Queensland senator who has served in the upper house since 2013, secured the leadership in what party sources described as a swift and uncontested transition. Chester, a former veterans' affairs minister who has represented his Victorian electorate since 2008, was chosen as his deputy to provide geographic and chamber balance in the new leadership team. Littleproud had led the Nationals since June 2022, when he replaced Barnaby Joyce following the Coalition's federal election defeat.
The sudden change comes at a critical time for the junior Coalition partner, which faces an uphill battle to remain relevant in Australian politics amid declining support in regional communities. The Nationals have struggled to define a clear identity distinct from the Liberal Party, with internal tensions over climate policy, energy, and agricultural trade continuing to divide the party room. Littleproud's admission of burnout reflects the intense pressures facing minor party leaders who must fight for visibility while managing complex internal dynamics.
Canavan is expected to take the party in a more combative direction, having built a reputation as an outspoken advocate for the coal and gas industries and a vocal critic of renewable energy targets. Coalition leader Peter Dutton is understood to have spoken with the new Nationals leader shortly after the ballot to discuss the working relationship between the two parties. Several Nationals members expressed shock at Littleproud's resignation but praised his service and said the transition had been handled with dignity.
The leadership change will require Canavan to quickly establish authority within the party room ahead of the next federal election, which must be held by May 2028. As a senator, he faces the unusual challenge of leading a party whose electoral fortunes depend heavily on lower house seats in regional Australia. The new leader is expected to outline his policy priorities and vision for the Nationals in a public address within the coming days, with particular attention on how he plans to differentiate the party from its Liberal Coalition partner.