February 26, 2018
NSW MP Michael McCormack was elected leader of the federal Nationals at a short party room meeting held in Canberra on Monday morning.
The Member for Riverina – and former journalist – has twice before nominated for Nationals leadership, and each time missed out.
Names that had been suggested before the poll included Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, Victorian MP Darren Chester, and NSW MP David Gillespie.
Mr Chester ruled himself out on Friday and Mr Littleproud on Sunday, saying in a statement: “”Now is not the time for internal contests. Now is the time for all individuals to be team players. Now is the time to think about stability for the good of the party.”
Mr Gillespie also admitted to the media that he did not have the numbers and withdrew from the ballot.
A late challenge to Mr McCormack’s bid was made by North Queensland MP George Christensen, who had earlier called for the Federal Coalition with the Liberal Party to be scrapped.
Details of the vote were not released by Nationals Whip Michelle Landry.
Mr McCormack entered Federal Parliament in 2010.
He served as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister in 2015, and in 2016 became Assistant Minister for Defence in the re-shuffle that followed the retirement of then-leader Warren Truss.
After the 2016 election, Mr McCormack was appointed Small Business Minister.
On Monday, he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
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Queensland LNP Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington welcomed Mr McCormack’s appointment.
“As Leader of the Liberal National Party in Queensland I have invited him to our State to discuss the issues that are relevant to us, particularly roads, dams and other vital infrastructure,” she said.
“I know the Deputy Prime Minister is a relentless advocate for regional Australia and I look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government.”
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Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said Mr MrCormack understood the needs of regional Australia.
“I have a very good relationship with Mr McCormack, he is a good friend and colleague, and I know that his focus is very much on delivering the services and infrastructure that people who live in communities like ours need,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Mr McCormack has visited Wide Bay many times.
“He’s hosted a forum for small business in Gympie, walked along Mary Street speaking to local traders, he’s been through the South Burnett to Murgon to meet with local business people, and was the keynote speaker at a Wide Bay Burnett regional economic development forum at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough.
“These visits to our electorate give Mr McCormack a deep appreciation of the issues we face.
“I particularly welcome his appointment as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The most important new project on the Bruce Highway has been identified as Cooroy to Curra Section D and I look forward to working with Mr McCormack to secure funding for this vital piece of infrastructure that will make the highway safer and build new economic opportunities for the region.
“I am committed to working with Mr McCormack to deliver for Wide Bay. Lowering unemployment, building safer roads, and improving aged care are some of my priorities and I look forward to continuing my work with Mr McCormack in pursuit of these and many other goals.”
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Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd also welcomed the vote.
“Michael McCormack will be an excellent leader for our Nationals team in Canberra and across the country,” he said.
“Barnaby has been an exceptionally strong leader for our party and I thank him for what he has delivered for regional and rural Australia.
“Barnaby’s tireless advocacy for the people of the bush will deliver benefits to regional Australia for generations to come.
“We came together as one, the ballot was held and now we get on with the job of representing regional and rural Australia.
“Michael has been an extremely effective Minister serving as Minister for Small Business and then Minister for Veteran Affairs.
“Michael joined the Parliament in the same year as myself as the Member for Riverina and knows the importance of dams, water and agriculture better than most.
“Michael’s responsibilities has brought him to Flynn on a number of occasions where he has met with small business owners and constituents on the ground and knows the challenges facing our region”
“Our party leader and now Deputy Prime Minister is very aware of the key priorities for Flynn, namely roads, rail, affordable energy supply and water infrastructure to secure long term prosperity for all of Central Queensland”
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Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Nationals had entered a new era.
“The people of Maranoa can rest assured we’ll continue to deliver for them together,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It was humbling to receive significant support from colleagues and others, urging me to run for the leadership of the National Party however, I have chosen to continue focussing on Maranoa and the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio.
“Now is the time for all individuals to be team players. Now is the time to think about stability and the good of the party.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Maranoa and we look forward to delivering great things under Michael McCormack’s leadership.”
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The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) also welcomed the election and thanked outgoing Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
QFF President Stuart Armitage congratulated Mr McCormack on his appointment.
“QFF and industry members look forward to the constructive relationship we experienced with the former Deputy Prime Minister and his office continuing with Mr. McCormack at the helm of the National Party,” Mr Armitage said.
“The National Party has a long history of working closely with and representing Australia’s agriculture regions and industries. QFF look forward to this tradition continuing in Queensland.
“On behalf of Queensland’s intensive agricultural industries, QFF acknowledges and thanks Barnaby Joyce for his passion, commitment and achievements as Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the National Party, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and more recently Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.”
“Barnaby Joyce has been a fierce and unapologetic advocate for rural and regional Queensland and its mainstay industries including agriculture.”
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ACTU secretary Sally McManus urged Mr McCormack to put working people in the regions first.
“Young people in regional areas can’t get a start, while one in 10 people in our workforce are on temporary visas. TAFE has been gutted and real jobs have been replaced by $4 per hour internships,” she said.
“People who want to work are forced into unfair work-for-welfare arrangements because the Turnbull/Joyce government killed real work opportunities.
“Rather than being content to sign off on policies that shift money out of regional communities and into big business bank accounts, Mr McCormack has a chance to stand up for working people in regional Australia.
“He must take that chance.”
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FOOTNOTE: Many news reports of Mr McCormack’s success have been accompanied by a clipping from his time as editor of the Wagga Wagga newspaper, the Daily Advertiser.
In 1993, Mr McCormack wrote an editorial that attracted widespread criticism:
“Dear Readers,” it began. “A week never goes by anymore when homosexuals and their sordid behaviour don’t become further entrenched in society. Unfortunately, gays are here and, if the disease their unnatural acts helped spread doesn’t wipe out humanity, they’re here to stay.”
Mr McCormack has apologised many times since 1993 for the editorial, and has said his views have since changed.
He voted “yes” in the same-sex marriage debate last year.
What commentators failed to mention is further in the same editorial, Mr McCormack takes a swipe at the Nationals and then NSW Chairman of the Nationals, Duncan Gay:
“Oh dear, the Nationals are at it again …”
- Related link: Joyce Quits As Deputy PM
