Canavan elected leader

Darren Chester was elected the new deputy leader.

Mr Littleproud shocked colleagues when he announced he would step down from the regional party’s top job on Tuesday with little notice, declaring he was “buggered” and didn’t have the energy to continue as leader.

But the Queensland MP will continue representing his seat of Maranoa and has said he’s willing to remain on the coalition front bench.

The election of Senator Canavan was welcomed by Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, who described him as policy driven and a good communicator.

“It is a little unusual to have the leader in the Senate, but the deputy, Darren Chester, is in the house and they should make a good team,” he said.

He expected the new leadership team would be able to work with new Liberal leader Angus Taylor in coalition.

“They’ll be strong on policy, and that’s what will be needed to turn this ship around; Australia is not heading in the right direction at the moment,” he said.

Mr Birrell said he was surprised by Mr Littleproud’s decision to step down.

“But this place (parliament) can take a heavy toll on individuals,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said he was feeling like a “million dollars” after stepping down, telling reporters on Wednesday morning he’d had his best sleep in eight months.

Consistently poor polling showing Pauline Hanson’s One Nation overtaking the coalition in voter support has shaken the Nationals, who fear a wipe-out at the next federal election.

Seats in regional Queensland and NSW are considered particularly at risk, threatening a number of electorates held by the Nationals.

The rural party failed to win back the seat of Calare at the 2025 election from independent Andrew Gee, who quit the Nationals over their opposition to the Indigenous voice to parliament.

Firebrand Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price also defected, to the Liberal Party, following the federal election defeat.

Mr Birell did not disclose who he voted for in the leadership poll.

– with AAP