Matt Canavan new Nationals leader: Darren Chester deputy after shock David Littleproud resignation

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has been elected leader of the Nationals, pledging to work for a nostalgic “hyper-Australia” with more babies, barbecues and banter.

Darren Chester was elected deputy in a 45 minute party room meeting on Wednesday, triggered by the resignation on Tuesday of David Littleproud as leader.

“It’s extremely humbling to be elected leader of this great party,” Mr Canavan said with his party, including a smiling Mr Littleproud, behind him.

“It’s tough times out there for Australians.

“I stood for this role because I think we are losing our country.

“People are losing their standard of living, their confidence. We’re losing our relaxed and larrikin nature and we have to fight back for Australia.

“That’s the bad news, the bad news is things are not going well under this Labor Government.

“The good news is that everything we need to solve the problems in front of us right now are here in this country. Everything we need to make Australia the country it was in our past is here.

“All we need to do to revive our great nation is to have more Australia. More Australian farming, more Australian manufacturing, more Australian jobs. More Australian everything. We need to manifest a hyper-Australia here.

“We need more Australian babies. We need more Australian humour, more Australian jokes. We need more Australian barbecues, sometimes often fuelled by fossil fuels.”

The selection of the conservative, father-of-five is a signal that the party is alive to the threat posed to its vote by an ascendant of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

The Coalition has slumped to its equal lowest primary vote under the leadership of Liberal Angus Taylor. The parties are now trailing in third position behind Labor and One Nation.

“I will now not rest to fight for our nation, to get back to using our resources, to fight for the Australian people, to put our country first,” Mr Canavan said.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also defected to the minor party late last year, which had been a blow to Mr Littleproud’s leadership alongside Jacinta Price shifting to Liberal party, and Andrew Gee becoming an independent.

Bridget McKenzie, who put her hand up for the leadership, remains Senate Leader for the Nationals.

Speaking after Senator Canavan, Senator McKenzie said: “We won’t just be taking it up to Labor, watch out One Nation.”

Nationals chief whip Michelle Landry announced the leadership ballot results shortly after the party room wrapped up the process at 10.45am.

“So today we had ballots for the leadership of the Federal Nationals Party, for the leader and the deputy leader. I would like to announce that Matt Canavan is the new leader of the Federal Nationals, and Darren Chester as our deputy leader,” she said.

“I think it’s important that we’ve got strong leadership in our party, and we thank David Littleproud for the amazing job that he’s done.

“We’ve got a mighty battle coming up ahead of us. We’ve got two years to get ourselves up in the polls. We’ve got fights with Labor, One Nation and the teals.

“So we really need strong leadership.

“I think we’ve voted for that today, and we’re looking forward to getting on with the job.”

Outgoing leader Mr Littleproud said he believed Senator Canavan had “a lot to offer” ahead of the Nationals ballot.

“Matt definitely has a role to play. I tried to get him back into the ministry after the election. I think Matt has a lot to offer,” he told Sky.

Mr Littleproud issued some fiery shots at former Liberal leader Sussan Ley on his last day at the helm.

When asked if he would encourage the next leader to have a similar hard-line stance on shadow cabinet solidarity, Mr Littleproud gave Ms Ley a spray over their time working together.

He particularly honed in on the fracture after three Nationals went against Ms Ley’s decision on the hate speech legislation in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre.

“We respect the Coalition process that Sussan Ley didn’t. We left, and we had every right to leave,” he said.

“While there’s plenty of backgrounding by her staff with you guys that get you to sit there and make me the boogeyman when you have a hard look at the facts, the National Party did nothing wrong.

“I would do it 100 times over again to stand up for my colleagues.

“I think the biggest problem Sussan Ley had is that she got rid of all policies, and so she left a policy vacuum. And I think if she reflects on that, I think Sussan would understand that was probably one of the biggest mistakes that led to much of the polling demise.”

Shortly after Senator Canavan was appointed, Senator Hanson speculated that his elevation to leadership “confirms his challenge to Michelle Landry for the seat of Capricornia”.

She also hit out at his criticism for the party in his opening remarks at the helm.

“Canavan has joined the woke pile on, choosing to attack One Nation instead of opening the door to working together in Australia’s interests,” she posted to X.

“Canavan has found himself in strange company against One Nation, the only party truly dedicated to leading the agenda on ending net-zero, cutting immigration and putting Australians first.”

The next leader of the Nationals could experience a baptism of fire with the Farrer by-election in May, sparked by Ms Ley’s retirement from the NSW seat after she was ousted by Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor congratulated new leader Senator Canavan and new deputy Mr Chester on their appointments and committed to “strong leadership” in the Coalition.

“I have worked closely with Matt and Darren for many years and know the conviction they bring to the Australians they represent,” he said in a statement.

“Together with Matt and Darren, we will keep fighting every day for the country we believe in, because Australia is worth fighting for.”

Fresh out of the gates, Senator Canavan introduced the Nationals Farrer candidate Brad Robertson, a former military commander, in Canberra on Wednesday — who will go up against One Nation’s preselected David Farley in May.

Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said he believed the new-look team would be a strong force against the rise of One Nation.

“It’s a good reset. It’s a good refresh. He will, I think, hoover up some of those votes which are now (we’re a) little bit worried about where they go,” he told Sky.

“One nation will get the blood nose that they probably need from Matt’s leadership.”

He added that former leader Mr Joyce would be frustrated he defected from the party to One Nation late last year.

“I think Barnaby Joyce would be squirming in his seat right now. I think Barnaby would be really regretting leaving the National party right about now,” he said.

“I heard him say earlier that he taught Matt everything he knows. Well, the apprentice has become the master. So that’s going to be really interesting to watch those two go head to head.”

Mr Joyce said on Wednesday he “won’t entertain” the idea that he could have returned as leader of the Nationals, insisting he had “moved on”.