Barnaby Joyce could be BOOTED as Nationals leader in Darren Chester challenge – ‘time for a change’

Barnaby Joyce’s leadership of the National Party came under severe threat late on Thursday night after Darren Chester announced he is challenging him.

Victorian Mr Chester, the outgoing Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, said it is ‘time for a change’ in the Nationals.

It could be a crowded contest when the party meets to vote in Canberra on Monday, with David Littleproud and former leader Michael McCormack also hinting at a run.

Mr Joyce has come under fire since the Coalition lost last weekend’s federal election, with many saying he is at least partly to blame. 

The former deputy prime minister rejected that, though, saying the Nationals held all 16 of its lower house seats and he was not responsible for the Liberals losing seats to teal independents, Labor and the Greens in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

‘I’m not in the Liberal Party. I’m in the Nationals,’ he said.

‘I’m not going to talk on behalf of the Liberal Party because that is for them, and I’m going to give them the space and dignity and the respect for them to have their own discussions.’

But Mr Chester sees things very differently, saying ‘We need to be honest with each other in the party room and take some responsibility for the Liberal losses in the city.’

‘How we develop our policies, deliver our message, and work with our Coalition partners in the future will determine whether we can return to government and deliver for regional communities,’ he told Nine newspapers.

Though he has not yet announced his candidacy, the Nationals’ current deputy leader, Mr Littleproud, could be an even stronger challenger to Mr Joyce. 

Colleagues have been encouraging Mr Littleproud and he reportedly has the support of almost half the the party’s MPs and senators. 

Another to put his hand up to run could be former party leader Mr McCormack, who said earlier this week that the Nationals were in a ‘despairing’ position now the Coalition is out of government. 

The former veterans’ affairs minister Darren Chester (pictured with his wife Julie), is challenging Barnaby Joyce for the leadership of the National Party

Barnaby Joyce (left) is pictured on the floor of the House of Representatives with Darren Chester (right). Mr Chester is now challenging Mr Joyce for the leadership of the National Party

Mr McCormack, who lost the party leadership after being challenged by Mr Joyce last year, reportedly feels Mr Joyce turns off moderate voters.

Despite the election loss, Mr Joyce still has strong support in the party room, with former resources minister Keith Pitt publicly backing him to remain as leader.

Mr Joyce told the ABC he is not bothered about being challenged for the leadership and is ‘completely at ease with the democratic process’.

He also said that the Nationals’ agreement with the Liberals no longer exists. 

‘The Nationals are out own party… there’s a Coalition agreement (but) there is no Coalition party. It always finishes at the end of any term,’ he said. 

Barnaby Joyce (right) is pictured with his partner Vikki Campion and their sons Sebastian and Thomas at Government House on June 22, 2021 in Canberra