2020 National Party of Australia leadership spill explained

Election Name:	2020 National Party of Australia leadership spill
Previous Election:	2018 National Party of Australia leadership election
Previous Year:	2018
Next Election:	2021 National Party of Australia leadership spill
Next Year:	2021
Election Date:	4 February 2020
Module:	Election Name: Leadership election Embed: yes Type: presidential Vote Type: Caucus Ongoing: no Candidate1: Michael McCormack Colour1: 006644 Popular Vote1: ≥11 Candidate2: Barnaby Joyce Colour2: 006644 Popular Vote2: <11 1Blank: Seat 1Data1: Riverina (NSW) 1Data2: New England (NSW) Leader Before Election: Michael McCormack After Election: Michael McCormack Module: Election Name: Deputy leadership election Embed: yes Type: presidential Vote Type: Caucus Ongoing: no Candidate1: David Littleproud Colour1: 006644 Popular Vote1: ≥11 Candidate2: David Gillespie Colour2: 006644 Popular Vote2: <11 Candidate3: Keith Pitt Colour3: 006644 Popular Vote3: <11 1Blank: Seat 1Data1: Maranoa (QLD) 1Data2: Lyne (NSW) 1Data3: Hinkler (QLD) Deputy Leader Before Election: Bridget McKenzie After Election: David Littleproud

A leadership spill for the federal leadership of the National Party of Australia was held on 4 February 2020, and was called by the Member for Wide Bay, Llew O'Brien.^[1]

The spill was called amid reports that former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was considering a challenge against the incumbent, Michael McCormack.^{[2] [3]} Following the spill in the regularly scheduled party room meeting, McCormack retained his position as leader. Some National MPs claimed the vote was as close as 11 to 10, however others say it was closer to 16-5.^{[4] [5] [6]}

A ballot for the deputy leadership was also held following Bridget McKenzie's resignation following the 2018–20 "Sports rorts" affair.^{[7] [8]} It was won by David Littleproud.^[4]

Candidates

Declared

Leader

• Michael McCormack, incumbent leader
• Barnaby Joyce, MP for New England

Deputy Leader

• David Gillespie, MP for Lyne^[9]
• Keith Pitt, MP for Hinkler and Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
• David Littleproud, MP for Maranoa and Minister for Water Resources

Declined

Deputy Leader

• Matt Canavan, Senator for Queensland, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
• Darren Chester, MP for Gippsland^[10]

Aftermath

As Matt Canavan resigned the day before the spill to support Joyce in the leadership spill, Canavan joined McKenzie in the backbenches. However, they remained deputy and leader of the Nationals in the Senate, despite losing their ministerial portfolios, as the other three Nationals senators were first-termers and thus considered ill-equipped to assume the leadership positions.^{[11] [12]}

On 10 February 2020, O'Brien quit the Nationals party room and sat with neither Nationals nor the Liberals, but remained a member of the Liberal National Party and sat with the Morrison government in parliament.^[13] The following day he was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, having been nominated by the Labor Opposition to the position made vacant by the resignation of Kevin Hogan, who had recently been elevated to the Ministry. O'Brien was elected over the Government's nominated choice, Nationals MP Damian Drum.^[14] O'Brien returned to sit in the Nationals party room in December 2020.^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Coorey . Phillip . Coalition chaos as Joyce mounts challenge and Canavan quits . 4 February 2020 . Australian Financial Review . 3 February 2020.
2. News: Barnaby Joyce prepared to challenge for Nationals leadership . 4 February 2020 . SBS News . 2 February 2020.
3. News: Grattan . Michelle . Richard Di Natale quits Greens leadership, as Barnaby Joyce seeks a tilt at Michael McCormack . 4 February 2020 . The Conversation . 3 February 2020.
4. News: Snape . Jack . Barnaby Joyce to challenge Michael McCormack in Nationals leadership spill as Parliament returns, live coverage . 4 February 2020 . . . 4 February 2020.
5. van Onselen . Peter . Peter van Onselen . vanOnselenP . 1224472537863573504 . 4 February 2020 . Confirmed: 11-10 .
6. News: Michael McCormack sees off Barnaby Joyce in National party leadership spill . Martin . Sarah . 3 February 2020 . The Guardian . 5 February 2020 . en-GB. 0261-3077.
7. News: Pearce . Lara . Bridget McKenzie resigns from cabinet over sports grant saga . 3 February 2020 . . Nine Network. 2 February 2020.
8. News: Bridget McKenzie quits frontbench over report she breached ministerial standards . . 2 February 2020 . 2 February 2020 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
9. News: Barnaby Joyce seeking to replace Michael McCormack if Nationals spill leadership . 3 February 2020 . ABC News. . 3 February 2020.
10. News: Gippsland MHR Darren Chester will not contest for Nationals deputy leadership . Gippsland Times . 2020-02-03 . 2020-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200203224053/https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/6610928/chester-will-not-contest-for-deputy-job-updated/ . dead .
11. Web site: Michael McCormack defeats Barnaby Joyce to remain Nationals leader. ABC News. 4 February 2020. 12 February 2020.
12. Web site: Anthony Albanese says public wants 'practical' action on climate change – as it happened. The Guardian. 4 February 2020. 12 February 2020.
13. News: Doran . Matthew . Borys . Stephanie . Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room . 10 February 2020 . ABC News . 3 February 2020 . en-AU.
14. Web site: Barnaby Joyce backer Llew O'Brien quits Nationals party room only to win a shock promotion. Doran. Matthew. Borys. Stephanie. 2020-02-10. ABC News. en-AU. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200210102817/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-10/queensland-mp-llew-o27brien-quits-nationals-party-room/11948492 . 2020-02-10 . 2020-02-10.
15. News: Rebel Nationals MP Llew O'Brien rejoins party after 10-month sabbatical. Jamieson. Murphy. 7 December 2020. 15 January 2021. FarmOnline.